below the belt

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below the belt

not fair That new advertisement really hits below the belt.

Usage notes: often used with hit, as in the example

Etymology: based on the idea of hitting someone below the belt in boxing, which is against the rules

See also: below, belt

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One afternoon, after twenty minutes of desperate efforts to annihilate each other according to set rules that did not permit kicking, striking below the belt, nor hitting when one was down, Cheese-Face, panting for breath and reeling, offered to call it quits. Martin Eden by London, Jack View in context			belch up belfry belief believe believe a word of it believe in believe it or not believe me Believe nothing of what you hear, and only half of what you see believe of Believe you me! bell bell, book, and candle things that are miraculous or that signal that bellow out bells and whistles belly belly out belly up bellyful belong belong to belong under below below average below par below the belt belt belt a drink down belt and braces belt down belt out belt the grape belt up bench bend bend back bend before bend down bend ear bend elbow bend forward bend in bend out of shape bend over bend over backwards bend the law bend the rules bender beneath beneath contempt beneath dignity			Below Market Rate Housing Below Market Rates Below Market Value Below Mean Axis Below Mean Sea Level Below Mentioned Below Minimum Detectable Limits below minimums Below or Equal Below Par Below Par Below Par Below Par Below Par Below Par Below Par Records Below Par Records Below Par Records Below Poverty Level Below Poverty Line Below Quantifiable Limit Below Regulatory Concern Below Rig Floor Below Sea-Level Below Seafloor Below stairs below standard below standards below strength Below Surface Grade below the belt below the ground below the ground Below the Horizon Below the Knee below the knee amputation Below the Limit of Quantitation Below the line Below the line Below the line Below the Line Cost Below the Line Costs Below the Line Deduction Below the Line Deductions Below the Line Item Below the Line Items Below the Line Observatory below the mark Below the Market Below the Mud Line below the surface Below the Treatment Zone Below the Waist Below the Water Below the zone Below Threshold Reprogramming Below Top of Casing Below Top of Rail

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