beltway 

Nickname for the highway (I-495) that encircles Washington DC through the surrounding states of Virginia and Maryland.

A defining feature of your DC-respective locale is whether it is inside or outside the beltway.

"Inside the beltway" can also refer generically to politics in the US capital city.

Person 1: I live in DC.
Person 2: No you don't. You live in Bethesda.
Person 1: Well, yeah, but it's inside the beltway.

Commuter 1: Traffic on the beltway sucked this morning.
Commuter 2: It always sucks. That's why I take the Metro.

beltway by creaternity May 23, 2006

beltway brat 

Someone raised in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, by parents who moved to the area to work in the government or a related field (law, lobbying, defense contractors, etc). The strictest definition would only apply to people living within the Capital Beltway, but more usually it refers to any county the Beltway passes through or encompasses (Washington D.C., Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax, Montgomery, and Prince George's County). As military brats are likely to know an unusual amount about the military, so beltway brats are likely to know an unusual amount about politics and government.

Alice: Charlie kept talking to the teacher about tort reform. How does he know so much about politics?
Bob: Oh, he grew up here in D.C., and his mom works for the Department of Agriculture-- he's a total beltway brat.

beltway brat by lukebn April 20, 2010

Beltway wisdom 

Ironically-named, out-of-touch nonsense repeated in an echo chamber by professionals in politics or the media who live in the Washington DC metro area, often proven wrong because the insulated people who subscribe to it are obsessed with horserace politics, their Twitter accounts, their ipads, and their cocktail parties instead of discussing the real issues that affect Americans who don't live there

"I have a feeling this contraception thing is going to hurt Obama with Catholics."

"Really? Thanks for the Beltway wisdom but Catholics actually support it. Try getting out of the echo chamber every now and then, Chris."

Beltway wisdom by Kanye Finish May 2, 2012

the beltway 

The driver's nightmare. Basically the only highway to get around the DC area. Idiot magnet. Watch for people in the left lane doing 50 MPH.

Whoa! An accident! Never seen one of those! I think I'll slow way down and stop traffic just to look at it!

the beltway by lazylatvian May 7, 2005

beltway bandit 

An unnecessary consultant, espcially one hired at government expense.

Though Ken isn't ashamed of his job as a certificate paper consultant for the government, his friends acknowledge behind his back that he's just a beltway bandit.

beltway bandit by SDHO June 19, 2008

Indianapolis Motor Beltway 

Another name for Interstate 465, the beltway (ring freeway) surrounding the city of Indianapolis, Indiana. Approximately 50 miles long, it passes through four cities (Indianapolis, Lawrence, Beech Grove, and Carmel). Most of its length is in Indianapolis.

The freeway is also known for motorists' general ignorance of the speed limit (55 MPH). A majority of traffic moves at 70 MPH or faster, garnering this freeway this nickname.

I-465's north and east legs are also characterized by severe traffic jams rivaling those of much larger cities. This is exacerbated by the high number of semitrucks/tractor-trailers that traverse the freeway at all hours of the day.

I love fooling out-of-towners into thinking that the Indy 500 consists of 10 laps around the Indianapolis Motor Beltway.

Indianapolis Motor Beltway by Alan Kirschner July 16, 2007

beltwarmer

Synonymous with muffin top.

This word is used to describe a large sagging abdominal pannus that hangs over the belt/belt loops of pants. The pannus should be so large as to insulate the belt and shield it from the environment.

Commonly seen in overweight people who expose their bare-midriffs or wear tight shirts tucked into their pants.

Connie: why the hell is that lady wearing a belly top! She has a massive beltwarmer!

Tom Fun: Imagine how many homeless could be shielded from the cold with that.

Connie: Life just isn't fair.

Tom Fun: There is no god.

beltwarmer by John FitzgibbonsIII February 27, 2008