underbelly

American  

[uhn-der-bel-ee] / ˈʌn dərˌbɛl i /

noun

plural

underbellies

1. the lower abdomen; posterior ventral area, as of an animal's body.

2. the lower surface of an object; underside.

   the underbelly of an airplane.

3. a vulnerable area; weak point.

   an attack on the soft underbelly of Europe.

4. a dark, seamy, often hidden area or side.

   a police officer continually exposed to the underbelly of society.

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underbelly British  

/ ˈʌndəˌbɛlɪ /

noun

1. the part of an animal's belly nearest to the ground

2. a vulnerable or unprotected part, aspect, or region

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Etymology

Origin of underbelly

First recorded in 1600–10; under- + belly

Example Sentences

In fact, more is known about the surface of some planets in our Solar System than much of Antarctica's "underbelly" – the topography beneath the ice sheet.

From BBC

Guerrero described the shark as “big, around 6 feet long,” with a white underbelly.

From Los Angeles Times

The clue is in the title - US crime noir writer Jordan Harper is back with his latest thriller as he returns to his regular hunting ground, the seedy underbelly of LA.

From BBC

The cloak of invincibility that Liverpool carried last season has been replaced by a soft - very soft - underbelly.

From BBC

Scotland have added new dimensions and layers to their game in recent times, but what has never been eradicated is their soft underbelly.

From BBC

Related Words

• basement
• bed
• floor
• ground
• seat
• underside