beltline
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below the belt
An idiom that describes a boundary of decency, fairness, or personal respect. A remark or action 'unter der Gürtellinie' (below the belt) is unfair, hurtful, vulgar, or personally insulting.
Die persönlichen Angriffe des Politikers im Wahlkampf gingen weit unter die Gürtellinie.
The politician's personal attacks during the election campaign went far below the belt.
The word consists of 'Gürtel' (belt) and 'Linie' (line). It literally refers to the line on the body where you wear a belt. This literal meaning also helps you understand the figurative meaning.
Der Rock endet knapp über der Gürtellinie.
The skirt ends just above the beltline.
The most common use is the fixed expression 'unter die Gürtellinie' (below the belt). It is almost always used with the preposition 'unter' and describes an unfair or insulting action or statement.
Seine Kritik war sachlich und ging nie unter die Gürtellinie.
His criticism was objective and never went below the belt.
You can almost always recognize the figurative, idiomatic meaning from the preposition 'unter'. It is used in contexts involving arguments, discussions, or competition. The literal meaning usually occurs only in the context of clothing.
Solche persönlichen Beleidigungen sind tief unter der Gürtellinie.
Personal insults like that are far below the belt.
hip
'die Hüfte' and 'die Gürtellinie' are both in the area of the body between the stomach and the legs, but they do not mean the same thing. 'Hüfte' is a body part at the side, including the hip joint. 'Gürtellinie' is the line around the waist where a belt sits. There is also the idiom 'unter die Gürtellinie' (below the belt): in that case, it is not about the body, but about an unfair or hurtful remark. Learners may confuse the words because both have to do with the middle of the body. For pain or movement, you usually say 'Hüfte'; for clothing or the idiom, you say 'Gürtellinie'.
Der Kommentar im Streit war klar unter der Gürtellinie.
The comment during the argument was clearly below the belt.
Nach dem langen Spaziergang tat ihr die Hüfte weh.
After the long walk, her hip hurt.