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Definitions

hit below the belt

VERB
play dirty
Synonyms
WEAK
bamboozle beguile bend the rules bilk burn caboodle chisel con deceive defraud do a number on double-cross double-deal dupe finagle fleece flimflam fudge hoodwink hose mislead pull something funny rip off rook sandbag scam screw shaft stack the cards stretch the rules sucker swindle trick victimize

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But he also was denigrated as a gut fighter who hit below the belt.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 13, 2021

Undeterred, he took on Mr. Rabin’s successor, Mr. Peres, and showed a willingness to hit below the belt.

From New York Times • Jun. 13, 2021

Athletics: C Chris Hermann left with a groin contusion after getting hit below the belt by a bounced pitch.

From Washington Times • Aug. 25, 2019

On only his second day of training camp, Lock, who reportedly was in a contract stalemate earlier this week, got verbally hit below the belt Friday by the old-school coach of the Broncos.

From Reuters • Jul. 19, 2019

This is a real slang phrase, and is only good English in the literal sense in which it is used in boxing, where it is against the rules to "hit below the belt."

From Stories That Words Tell Us by O'Neill, Elizabeth (Elizabeth Speakman)