Idiom
Below the belt
Something below the belt is unfair or unkind, especially a remark that attacks a person's weak spot.
How people use it
People use it for insults, jokes and tactics that cross the line of fair play: "That comment about his accent was below the belt." A common verb form is "hit below the belt." It is informal to neutral. It suggests not just rudeness but unfairness, like using a private secret against someone in an argument. A related noun phrase is "a low blow."
Also said: hit below the belt.
Examples
- Mentioning her failed exam in front of everyone was below the belt.
- The ad mocking the other bakery's owner felt a bit below the belt.
- Leo apologized for his joke, admitting it was below the belt.
Where it comes from
In boxing, hitting an opponent below the waistline is against the rules. Boxing rules in the 1800s, including the well-known Queensberry rules of 1867, banned such blows, and the figurative sense of unfair behavior followed in the late 1800s.
Check yourself
1. If a remark is below the belt, what is it?
Answer: Unfair and hurtful. Below the belt describes unfair attacks, like an illegal punch in boxing.
2. Which sentence uses the idiom correctly?
Answer: Teasing Sam about his old breakup in front of his new friends was below the belt.. It targets a painful, personal topic, which is unfair.
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