below the belt

belt

(bĕlt)

n.

1.

a. A flexible band, as of leather or cloth, worn around the waist or over a shoulder to hold up clothing, secure tools or weapons, or serve as decoration.

b. Something resembling a belt, as a number of machine-gun rounds attached together in a strip.

2. An encircling route.

3. A seat belt or safety belt.

4. A continuous band or chain for transferring motion or power or conveying materials from one wheel or shaft to another.

5. A band of tough reinforcing material beneath the tread of a tire.

6. A usually bandlike geographic region that is distinctive in a specific respect. Often used in combination: "This is America's rural poverty belt" (Charles Kuralt).

7. A powerful blow; a wallop.

8. A drink of hard liquor.

tr.v. belt·ed, belt·ing, belts

1. To equip, hold up, or attach with a belt: belted my trousers; belted the sword to her waist.

2. To encircle or mark in the manner of a belt: The equator belts the earth.

3. To beat with a belt or strap.

4. To strike forcefully; hit.

5. To sing in a loud and forceful manner: belt out a song.

6. To swig (an alcoholic beverage).

Idioms:

below the belt

Not according to the rules; unfairly.

tighten (one's) belt

To begin to exercise thrift and frugality.

under (one's) belt

In one's possession or experience: "By his mid-teens, Liszt had three years of intensive concertizing under his belt" (Musical Heritage Review).

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[Middle English, from Old English, from Germanic *baltijaz, from Latin balteus, belt, baldric, possibly of Etruscan origin.]

below the belt

Foul punch below the waistline, especially in the groin area.

Thesaurus

Adj.	1.	below the belt - disregarding the rules (from the notion of an illegal low blow in boxing); "her accusations were below the belt" boxing, pugilism, fisticuffs - fighting with the fists unfair, unjust - not fair; marked by injustice or partiality or deception; "used unfair methods"; "it was an unfair trial"; "took an unfair advantage"
Adv.	1.	below the belt - in an unfair manner; "they dealt with him unfairly"; "their accusations hit below the belt" unfairly

Translations

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