Below the belt

Meaning

The idiom "below the belt" is used to describe something that is dishonest or unfairly advantageous, typically a policy or practice that benefits one group at the expense of another.

Usage

• The company's new pricing strategy is below the belt as it unfairly advantages their competitors over smaller businesses like ours.
• The politician's campaign promises are too below the belt to be taken seriously.
• The government's decision to cut funding for public services was below the belt, leaving many people without access to necessary resources.
• The employee's coworker received a promotion simply because they were friends with the manager, rather than their skills or job performance.
• The sports team's tactic of deliberately injuring opposing players is considered below the belt and goes against the rules of the game. The usage of "below the belt" can vary depending on the context. It can be used to describe a policy or practice that benefits one group at the expense of another, but it can also be used to describe an action that is considered dishonest or unfair in any situation.

Roots and History

The idiom "below the belt" has its origins in the early 20th century, with the first known use being recorded in a book of colloquialisms from 1937. It is believed to have originated from the idea that any action or policy that benefits one group at the expense of another is "below the waist" or "out of sight." This suggests that it is something that goes unnoticed or is not aboveboard, and therefore dishonest or unfair.

Synonyms in English

• Unfair advantage
• Unbalanced treatment
• Uneven playing field
• Discriminatory practices
• Misleading promises

Synonyms in other languages

• 不平衡的治理 - Mandarin (nóng píng hé de zhì gōu)
• 비공平성 - Korean (bi gong páng sae)
• פרישון הנדסעת יחס אל מכול כלל - Hebrew (perišon hanedesat yechas al makhlal)

Similar Idioms

• break open

• bring someone to book

• bird’s eye view