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.

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.

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."

by Kanye Finish May 2, 2012

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.

by SDHO June 19, 2008

beltway bitch

a motorist who refuses to match the prevailing velocity of other motorists on a high-capacity arterial roadway, often in heavy traffic; a motorist who is driving too slow in the fast lane; a motorist who hogs the fast lane when others are passing on the right; a motorist who is impeding traffic. Often, the offending motorist lacks confidence in his/her driving abilities, fears other drivers, or has been deluded into thinking that by going slow on the freeway, s/he is making the world a safer place.

That beltway bitch is going way too slow. He is going to cause an accident!

by Driving School March 17, 2009

Beltway Wailing

The act of driving and masterbating at the same time.

I was driving in my truck and I looked over and could see this dude beltway wailing while he was driving.

by Mr. T in MD September 27, 2020

beltway bro

A beneficiary of white male privilege who works in the DC area, especially males involved in foreign policy who have little or no relevant international experience.

Generally, beltway bros make up for what they lack in competence with an abundance of unjustified self-confidence.

The swamp consists of beltway bros who purport to be experts, e.g. in the Middle East, but don't speak any relevant languages and have never lived or worked in the region.

by Alilbirdtoldme June 28, 2021