Etymology Journal ยท L
Lower than a snake's belly
Meaning
- Describes someone or something that is morally reprehensible, despicable, or at a very low point. It is a strong way to characterize poor behavior.
Harsh, judgmental
Used in a sentence
- Cheating in a game of checkers is lower than a snake's belly.
- That guy is lower than a snake's belly for lying to his own family.
- I think his reputation is currently lower than a snake's belly.
The backstory
This idiom plays on the imagery of a snake crawling on the ground, which is inherently low. It has been a staple of rural American hyperbole for generations.
Heard in
The South
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