below the belt
The term "below the belt" originates from boxing, where hitting an opponent below the waist is against the rules. It has since evolved to describe actions or remarks that are considered unfair or excessively harsh.
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Definition
B2Boxing
(technical, sports)A punch or strike that lands below an opponent's waist, considered against the rules.
Example
- The referee warned the fighter for hitting below the belt.
B2General
(idiomatic)An action or remark that is unfair or excessively harsh.
Example
- His comment about her personal life was really below the belt.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "below the belt":
low blowdown belowbelow the linecheap shotdown therebelow parbody blowcome from below