hit below the belt

verb

To act unfairly, unscrupulously, or to make a cruel, personal attack during an argument or competition.

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Meanings

verbhit below the belt (third-person singular simple present hits below the belt, present participle hitting below the belt, simple past and past participle hit below the belt)

present singular third person hits below the belt · participle present hitting below the belt

  1. idiomaticinformalTo act unfairly, unscrupulously, or to make a cruel, personal attack during an argument or competition.
Cite this entry
APA

hit below the belt. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hit%20below%20the%20belt

MLA

“hit below the belt.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hit%20below%20the%20belt. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “hit below the belt,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hit%20below%20the%20belt.

Source: hit below the belt on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.