hit below the belt

Related to hit below the belt: out of whack, perish the thought, same old same old, To Say the Least

hit (one) below the belt

To unfairly target one's weakness or vulnerability. The phrase refers to boxing, in which hitting an opponent below the waist is prohibited. I know she really wants the promotion, but she really hit me below the belt by telling the boss about my personal problems.
See also: below, belt, hit

hit below the belt

To unfairly target another person's weakness or vulnerability. The phrase refers to boxing, in which hitting an opponent below the waist is unacceptable. I know she really wants the promotion, but she hit below the belt when she told the boss about my personal problems.
See also: below, belt, hit
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

hit someone below the belt

 
1. Lit. [for a boxer] to strike an opponent below the belt. (An unfair blow.) The champ hit the contender below the belt and the crowd began to boo like fury. Fred was hit below the belt and suffered considerably.
2. Fig. to deal someone an unfair blow. That's not fair! You told them I was the one who ordered the wrong-size carpet. That's hitting me below the belt. Todd hit below the belt when he said it was all her fault because she had become ill during the trip.
See also: below, belt, hit
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

below the belt, hit

Not behave according to the rules or decency, unfairly, as in Bringing up my mother's faults-that's really hitting below the belt. The term comes from boxing, where according to the Marquis of Queensberry Rules (1865) a fighter may punch his opponent only in the upper body or head. For a synonym, see low blow; also see under one's belt.
See also: below, hit
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

below the belt

Unfair behavior. The term comes from boxing, where the Marquess of Queensberry rules, formulated in 1865, prohibit striking an opponent there. It began to be used figuratively in the late nineteenth century.
See also: below, belt
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • hit (one) below the belt
  • hit someone below the belt
  • below the belt
  • below the belt, hit
  • be below the belt
  • smell blood
  • scent blood
  • get (one) over a barrel
  • get someone over a barrel
  • over a barrel
References in periodicals archive
Reprinted with permission from Hit Below the Belt: Facing Up to Prostate Cancer.
A Lonely Journey
It hit below the belt. India's poor have been sold for 32 metal pieces that the rulers consider a king's ransom that can guarantee a contentment of an existence.
SOLD FOR 32 PIECES OF SILVER
Chulani agrees, " Don't hit below the belt. Be diplomatic while revealing your mind," she says.
TO SPILL THE BEANS OR NOT?
I never hit below the belt, I never use the Cyprus problem for other purposes," said Garoyian.
Chistofias calls for peace talks -- with DIKO
LOW BLOW Khan could not recover after being hit below the belt
trouble & strife for khan; Amir knows his wife Faryal hates him boxing but he admits he can't quit yet after latest heavy defeat
They want to use all the methods they can and they hit below the belt.
Football: IT'S WAR; THE BATTLE FOR HEARTS AND MINDS JAMBOS CHIEF BLASTS OLD FIRM AND VOWS TO OVERTHROW SFA
Dan Lydiate was also prepared to hit below the belt, but a little too low when he handed Jules Plisson an easy kick.
WALES' NORTH STAR
No Queensbury Rules this time, as the Lib Dumb hit below the belt after last week's mistakes.
Gloves off... as heavy hitters trade blows
While both hit below the belt, Louis was perhaps harder - even saying that Pete had "had his day and should just go quietly now".
POP GURU; THE RIVALS; Pete Waterman blasts Louis Walsh over battle of the telly wannabes