underbelly

underbelly
underbelly (n.) c.1600, from UNDER (Cf. under) + BELLY (Cf. belly). In figurative sense of "most vulnerable part" it is recorded from Churchill's 1942 speech. Sometimes used erroneously in sense of "seamy or sordid part" of anything.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Underbelly — Titre original Underbelly Genre Série dramatique, policière Créateur(s) Des Monaghan Jo Horsburgh Production Greg Haddrick Brenda Pam Musique Burkhard Dallwitz  : It s a Jungle Out There Pays d’origine …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Underbelly — Género Drama Reparto Rodger Corser Caroline Craig Gyton Grantley Kat Stewart Narrado por Caroline Craig País de origen …   Wikipedia Español

  • Underbelly — bezeichnet: ein Unterhaltungsunternehmen in England, siehe Underbelly Limited eine Reihe von australischen Miniserien Underbelly – Krieg der Unterwelt Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities Underbelly: The Golden Mile Underbelly: Razor eine Reihe von… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Underbelly — is term used to describe the side which is not normally seen. This term could refer to:;Business* Underbelly Limited, an entertainment company in the UK * Smirnoff Underbelly, an entertainment venue in the UK;Television* Notes from the Underbelly …   Wikipedia

  • Underbelly — Un der*bel ly, n. 1. The lower ventral part of the abdomen of an animal, especially one that walks on four feet. [PJC] 2. The surface of an object closest to the ground, especially of an extended object such as an airplane. [PJC] 3. The weak… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • underbelly — ► NOUN (pl. underbellies) 1) the soft underside or abdomen of an animal, especially vulnerable to attack. 2) a hidden unpleasant or criminal part of society …   English terms dictionary

  • underbelly — [un′dər bel΄ē] n. 1. the lower, posterior part of an animal s belly 2. any vulnerable or unprotected area, region, point, etc …   English World dictionary

  • underbelly — [[t]ʌ̱ndə(r)beli[/t]] underbellies 1) N COUNT: usu with supp, usu N of n The underbelly of something is the part of it that can be most easily attacked or criticized. The ANC are attacking rugby because it is the soft underbelly of South African… …   English dictionary

  • underbelly — un|der|bel|ly [ˈʌndəˌbeli US ər ] n [singular] literary 1.) the unpleasant parts of a place or society that are normally hidden underbelly of ▪ photographs that capture the underbelly of the United States its poverty, its injustice, and its… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • underbelly — UK [ˈʌndə(r)ˌbelɪ] / US [ˈʌndərˌbelɪ] noun [countable] Word forms underbelly : singular underbelly plural underbellies 1) the part under an animal s body where the stomach is the white underbelly of a fish 2) the bottom surface of a plane or… …   English dictionary

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