low blow

American  

noun

1. (in boxing) an illegal blow below the waist of an opponent.

2. an unfair or unsportsmanlike criticism or attack.

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low blow Idioms  

1. 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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Etymology

Origin of low blow

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

That’s a lie, Soboroff shot back, claiming he was insulted by the low blow.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 15, 2025

It sounds like a low blow, and an odd attack line in a diverse state filled with immigrants and newcomers of all kinds.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 10, 2025

Pound-for-pound star Usyk beat Dubois via a ninth-round stoppage in August 2023 but was dropped by a body shot, which was declared a low blow, earlier in the fight.

From BBC • Apr. 29, 2025

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.

From BBC • Apr. 27, 2025

He goes for a low blow and beatboxes an all-too-familiar, “Boomp...boomp, boomp, boomp.”

From "The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas