Underbelly - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Definition:
The vulnerable or hidden part of something, often referring to crime or weakness.
Synonyms:
weak spot, soft underbelly, vulnerable area, Achilles' heel
Part of Speech:
noun
Antonyms:
strength, advantage
Common Collocations:
criminal underbelly, urban underbelly, society's underbelly
Derivatives:
underbellies (plural)
Usage Tips:
Use "underbelly" metaphorically to describe hidden vulnerabilities or illicit aspects of a system or place.
Common Phrases:
soft underbelly of society, expose the underbelly, dark underbelly of the city
Etymology:
Derived from "under" + "belly," referring to the vulnerable underside of an animal or figurative weakness.
Examples:
- 1. The city's underbelly hides many illegal activities.
- 2. Tourists rarely see the gritty underbelly of this glamorous destination.
- 3. Corruption is the underbelly of their political system.
- 4. The documentary exposed the dark underbelly of the industry.