under one's belt



under one's belt

Experienced or achieved, as in Once a medical student has anatomy under her belt, she'll have much less to memorize. This metaphoric expression likens food that has been consumed to an experience that has been digested. [Colloquial; first half of 1800s]
See also: belt

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Andronicus-Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Junia-Biblical, Ancient Roman
Gobnata-History
Honoratahaw-naw-RAH-tah (Polish)Late Roman, Polish
S&Aelig;Wine-Anglo-Saxon
Sibyl['sibil]