below the belt meaning

UK /bɪˈləʊ ðə bɛlt/ US /bɪˈloʊ ðə bɛlt/ 4 syllables

below the belt (adjective): disregarding the rules (from the notion of an illegal low blow in boxing).

below the belt has 2 meanings in this dictionary, as adjective and adverb.

below the belt as an adjective

  1. disregarding the rules (from the notion of an illegal low blow in boxing)
    • her accusations were below the belt

    Similar: unfair

below the belt as an adverb

  1. in an unfair manner
    • they dealt with him unfairly
    • their accusations hit below the belt

    Synonyms: unfairly

How to pronounce below the belt

below the belt is pronounced /bɪˈləʊ ðə bɛlt/ in British English and /bɪˈloʊ ðə bɛlt/ in American English. It has 4 syllables.

More about below the belt on Wikipedia.