What does it mean to hit below the belt during an argument?

[Anonymous]

An argument you didn’t even initiate

[pillingsadness]

Hurting or insulting someone in an inappropriate way.

This expression is often used when insults become too personal.

It comes from a boxing term, (In Boxing there is a point-scoring target area, and below the belt is not part of it.. The idea is to discourage fighters punching each other in the knacker) when you literally can’t hit “below the belt”, but it means taking a “cheap shot” at someone emotionally unprepared for the whallop you are delivering.
It usuallly implies that you have knowledge, or information which the bearer will find upsetting or particularlly sensitive, but, you do it anyway. It means a tasteless, thoughtless, mal-intended comment which was not necessary, escalatory, or intended to harm or insult.

hope this is helpful.

[Asker]

What’s your opinion in that? Are there limits that shouldn’t be crossed despite the other person having all the intentions to hurt you emotionally (fails to do so because the other person has no baggage)?

[tatianamay]

"Hitting below the belt" refers to hurting or insulting someone in an inappropriate way. This is used when the insults become too personal. For example, let there be 2 people, A and B. A started the argument, but B takes it too far and comments something highly inappropriate, say, something about their face, or their body, or telling them to end their life, or something like that. Then, although A started the argument, B took it too far by insulting them in a highly inappropriate way.

[Asker]

What if A started the argument with a comment about the body and B being crazy to the point of possibly killing someone for getting angry BUT B points out how she’s a failure, a burden, a bad mom, a hoe that gets used by men and has nothing going for her in life (meanwhile A’s daughter was present).

[tatianamay]

Okay, wow, umm well, A is your husband? Kill who? B mentioned something about killing A?

[Asker]

A & B are both sisters. A is the oldest (36) and B is 24. B got upset the day prior because A had damaged some property. The following day, B gave up and stopped trying to be patient or polite so when A came in saying good morning... B told A, don’t talk to me and don’t interrupt me while I’m working. So, I guess A wasn’t liking it and A is known for bossing people around and being disrespectful with others so she thought she could confront B too and get away with it. I guess B wasn’t having it and decided to give her a taste of her own medicine.

[tatianamay]

You should talk with your sister. If she jumps off a cliff, would you jump off a cliff as well? If she is known for being disrespectful, then why are you stooping to her level? Please never argue in front of kids, it'll stay with them forever. Time is the best healer. People say some stupid things in the heat of the moment which they regret later. A should not have damaged your property, and I'm sure B is a good mother. B just needs some time to spot players from genuine guys. That does not make her a hoe. A should apologize to you, for damaging your property, and you should apologize to her insulting something personal. If she says something disrespectful next time, take deep breaths and calm down. Don't retort with anything disparaging. You'll regret it later when you're calm and the argument's died down. You know, when you are calm even when she's being disrespectful, it does not mean that you're weak. It means that you're smart.

[Asker]

No, A is the mom and the one sleeping around.

[Asker]

Hmm I don't know about that. I’m usually calm but I feel like sometimes people need a taste of their own medicine and a real reality check... humble them. It also infuriated me that our parents would prefer me keeping quiet and getting disrespected than sticking up for myself.

[tatianamay]

As long as she's single, she can do whatever she wants, yeah? Maybe she's just clueless about what to do next. Maybe she's frustrated with life. Be supportive. I know that this is not what you want to hear, but A's life seems kind of messed up. Now, you should not be mad at her, you have to pity her.

[tatianamay]

Help her be a better mom

[tatianamay]

You should stand your ground and stick up for yourself if necessary, and some people do need a reality check ever now and then, but why did you insult her back? Maybe you could've done it some other way? Making her realize that she was wrong? Does she live with you?

[tatianamay]

Your parents asking you to keep quiet would get frustrating, but have you ever thought just maybe they know she's the bossy one, and you're the calm, sensible one?

[tatianamay]

But from what I read above, it seems like BOTH of you are in the wrong. What you said was worse though. I feel like you should've been more considerate, and you were the one who hit below the belt during this argument.

[Asker]

Well, to be fair at one point I did tell her that people only tolerate her disrespect because they pity her. So, I don’t know. I think I went easy on her. She was here because things with her ex ended and she came back to our parents house but she also brought her bad attitude... I’m miserable and want to see others miserable so I know she intentionally damaged propriety.

[tatianamay]

She is already hurt. She has a daughter. She came to you (family) for support. You should not have pointed that out. Some people may have a bad attitude and like making others miserable, but when we do the same thing, then we're just stooping to her level. You should not have said those things to her in front of her daughter. That's just messed up. She may be a bad mom, an alcoholic, a person who sleeps around with guys, but have you ever put yourself in her shoes? How would you have felt if someone pointed out all those to you? She may be all that, but what you said was downright hitting below the belt. It is unacceptable-- that too in front of a child! You went too far with this one. Please make things right with her and tell her that she should not have damaged your property. Both of you should apologize to each other, in my opinion

[Asker]

Well, I wasn’t planning on doing that but... she asked for it when she told my parents “be carved up, because the way she’s getting this mad at me for nothing she might kill you guys one day.” That was like, okay. You deserve to be called out for what you are. So, that’s exactly what I did. I told her the truth and she knows that.

[tatianamay]

I'm sorry to say this, but you need to cut ties off with your sister. She seems toxic

[Asker]

Exactly. So, that and my mom (she never liked me) going along with her comment calling me crazy... I felt like she deserved it. I mean, after all she started it. Right?

[tatianamay]

Jesus, your whole family seems batshit crazy, no offense. How about your dad?

[Asker]

My dad, well... my dad is a coward. He told another sister of ours that he agreed with everything I said to her but told me that I’m evil. He heard everything she said to me and knows that she initiated it and yet... I’m the evil one. I’m evil for defending our home and myself. So, I told him the day after... it’s useless for me to hear you tell me you agree with me but yet did nothing about it and chose to call me evil.

[Asker]

So, now that you know all of this... what do you think now? Was I really in the wrong?

[tatianamay]

Oh my gosh, sis, I feel sorry for you. Are you okay? You need to cut ties off with your family, or at least try to distance yourself from them. Your sanity is more important.

[Asker]

Exactly. It’s been a month and I haven’t spoken to my parents at all. As for the sister, I could care less. Crazy to think that a day after everything happened my “mother” wanted to talk to me like nothing happened. All of them gross me out.

[tatianamay]

Bet. Good luck, girly! I know what its like to be a part of a toxic family, I cannot cut ties off because I'm not an adult yet, and there's college and stuff, so yup. Take care <3

[Asker]

Thanks 😊

[Anonymous]

Making fun of a mans family jewels. A one way ticket to get ghosted for like a month straight or even drive a man to just find another girl.

Basically to hit below the belt is a metaphor for a insult that is taken way to far and it goes deep into the territory of insulting a mans pride and dignity. Its something I'd HIGHLY advise not to do. As its often in a dating scene a one way ticket to get like kicked to the curb if its something a boyfriend has been putting up for a while. Talking dump soon to be ex girlfriends stuff in garbage bags and yeeted out the door level of kicked to the curb. As well tell the girlfriend to not worry about the rent.

[Asker]

Umm no, you’re way off.

[Opinion Owner]

I don't think you grasp then the real meaning. You're the one asking for the definition :/

[Ghostlock]

It means you threw some real shit in his face, something that you already knew bothered him or hurt him. Something that chances are had nothing to do with the argument but you threw it out there to hurt him.

[Anonymous]

"Hitting below the belt" usually refers to making a hurtful comment that should be off limits - something that shouldn't be criticized even in the heat of the moment.

[Asker]

What’s your opinion in that? Are there limits that shouldn’t be crossed despite the other person having all the intentions to hurt you emotionally (fails to do so because the other person has no baggage)?

[Opinion Owner]

I don't think I fully understand your question, but yes, I do think there are lines that shouldn't be crossed. If someone else is trying to intentionally hurt you, it's usually better to just disengage from the situation than escalate it by saying things that shouldn't be said.

[Asker]

Well, what if What if girl A started the argument by saying B was acting like a bitch and B being crazy to the point of possibly killing someone for getting angry Easily BUT B points out how A’s a failure, a burden, a bad mom, a hoe that gets used by men and has nothing going for her in life (meanwhile A’s daughter was present). Who hit below the belt?

[Opinion Owner]

Wtf? Both are in the wrong. This whole argument sounds like drama, and to have the argument in front of person A's daughter is bad on both parties.

[Asker]

I agree but keep in mind that A had a habit of insulting and nobody sticking up for themselves... used to getting away with that with other people.

[Asker]

If you’d have to choose, who hit below the belt... A or B?

[Opinion Owner]

I already answered. Both A and B. But honestly, I think what B said was worse, at least from what I read above. If B already knew that A had a history of insulting people, B should've cut ties with A before it got to this point. Just because someone else sinks that low doesn't mean the rest of us have to.

[Asker]

I agree 100%. I’d say it got to that point because everyone at home disregarded B’s concerns about A’s negative behavior prior to the argument. Hence, A never really understood she was crossing the line because the parents weren’t expressing how they felt and would say behind closed doors. So, I guess B in the heat of defending herself and putting her foot down... said everything that everyone else would say about A and stuff that A knows is true. Yes, the parents and A’s daughter was present.

[SnakeBoop]

For instance, sex insults, or utilising something you know is a sore point for them (say for instance bringing up a traumatic experience or such.)

[IAMNathanael]

When you take it too far
Like "oh that was uncalled for"

[EQisKEY]

They went out of their way to hurt your feelings, which is low hanging fruit to avoid how thin their own veeners are.

[chriscdi]

It's when you say something that goes too far

[noohair]

A boxing term.
No nut punching.