adjective
disregarding the rules (from the notion of an illegal low blow in boxing)
-
her accusations were below the belt
• Topics: ↑boxing, ↑pugilism, ↑fisticuffs
adverb
in an unfair manner
-
they dealt with him unfairly
-
their accusations hit below the belt
• Syn: ↑unfairly
* * *
UNFAIR, unjust, unacceptable, inequitable; unethical, unprincipled, immoral, unscrupulous, unsporting, sneaky, dishonourable, dishonest, underhand; informal low-down, dirty; Brit. informal out of order, off, a bit thick, not cricket.
→ belt
* * *
adverb1. : in the area below the waistline
a boxer disqualified for hitting below the belt
2. : in an unfair or cowardly manner
most of the criticism hit below the belt
* * *
below the belt
▪ To hit, etc, an opponent's body lower than the waist (forbidden in some sports)
▪ Hence (figurative) to deliver a mean blow, attack unfairly
● belt
* * *
below the belt phrase
a comment that is below the belt is cruel and unfair
That remark about his weight was a bit below the belt.
Main entry: belt
* * *
unfair or unfairly; disregarding the rules
there has been yet another below-the-belt blow to the workers of Chicago
Origin:
from the notion of an unfair and illegal blow in boxing
* * *
below the belt
informal : too harsh and unfair
◇ The phrase below the belt comes from the sport of boxing, where it is against the rules to hit your opponent anywhere below the belt.
• • •
Main Entry: ↑belt
* * *
below the ˈbelt idiom
(of a remark) unfair or cruel
•
That was distinctly below the belt!
Useful english dictionary. 2012.