not cricket
Below the belt
Not cricket means unfair, unsportsmanlike, or contrary to accepted standards of conduct.
The phrase draws on cricket's reputation as a gentleman's game with strict codes of honor.
It's primarily British and somewhat old-fashioned: Reading someone's private letters just isn't cricket.
The positive form that's cricket is rarer.
- unsportingLacking fair play ethics
- unfairUnjust or partial
- improperLacking in propriety
- ungentlemanlyLacking courteous conduct
- dishonestInclined to deceive
bad sport · out of order · unacceptable · below the belt · cheap shot · dirty pool · unsportsmanly · foul play · against the rules · shady · fishy · bad form · poor form · dodgy · inappropriate · foul · betrayal · spirit of the game
- Cricket Idiomssticky wicket, bowled over, stumped, on the back foot, on the front foot
- sportsmanshipfairness, fair play, sportsmanship, respect, integrity
not cricketcricket
Chirping legged insect
fair play · sportsmanlike · above board · fair and square · on the level
not cricketgood form
Correct social behavior
acceptable · appropriate · seemly · fitting · respectable