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low blow

noun

(in boxing) an illegal blow below the waist of an opponent.
an unfair or unsportsmanlike criticism or attack.

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Word History and Origins

Origin of low blow¹

First recorded in 1950–55

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Idioms and Phrases

An unscrupulous attack; an insult. For example, When my roommate moved out without a word of warning, leaving me to pay the entire rent, that was a low blow , or She wanted to win the argument, but bringing up his failed marriage was a low blow . This term alludes to the illegal practice of hitting an opponent in boxing below the belt . [c. 1950]

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

There was controversy the last time they fought when Usyk was floored in the fifth round but the punch was declared a low blow by the referee.

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There was also the small matter of the controversy of the low blow as Dubois was mere centimetres away from knocking down Usyk and perhaps finishing the fight.

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Catterall was warned for a low blow in the seventh and, as the round drew to a close, his legs dipped after a right from Barboza.

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Dubois will consider himself the top contender and is desperate to have another crack at Usyk after his loss to the Ukrainian in 2023 was marred by a tight call on a low blow.

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Former President Trump, on the other hand, appeared to chuckle at the low blow.

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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