Gut
/ɡʌt/
Definitions
4 meaningsThe alimentary canal; the intestines.
/ɡʌt/
The digestive tract; intestines.
He felt a sharp pain in his gut.
💡 Simply: Your gut is like a long, twisty tube inside you where food goes after you eat it. It helps you digest your food. Imagine a snake eating a mouse – that's kind of like how your gut works!
👶 For kids: The place inside your body where food goes to get broken down!
More Examples
The doctor examined his gut.
The bacteria in the gut aid digestion.
How It's Used
"The surgeon examined the patient's intestines."
"Problems with the gut can affect overall health."
Courage; bravery; nerve.
/ɡʌts/
Courage or determination.
It takes guts to start your own business.
💡 Simply: Having 'guts' means you're really brave! Like when you stand up for someone even when it's hard, or when you try something even if you're scared. It's about being tough inside!
👶 For kids: Being super brave!
More Examples
He showed his guts by standing up for the underdog.
She had the guts to face her fears.
How It's Used
"She showed a lot of guts to speak out against the decision."
"It takes guts to bungee jump."
To remove the internal organs of (an animal or fish).
/ɡʌt/
To remove the internal organs of (a fish or other animal).
The chef gutted the chicken before stuffing it.
💡 Simply: When you 'gut' a fish, you're taking out its insides so you can cook it. It’s like cleaning out a pumpkin before carving a face.
👶 For kids: To take out the yucky parts inside an animal, like a fish.
More Examples
He carefully gutted the fish to prepare it for dinner.
After catching the fish, they gutted it on the shore.
How It's Used
"He gutted the fish before cooking it."
"The fishermen gutted their catch on the boat."
To destroy or damage the interior of (a building).
/ɡʌt/
To destroy or damage the interior of a building.
The fire gutted the house, leaving only the shell.
💡 Simply: When a building is 'gutted', it means the inside is completely taken out or destroyed, like after a fire. Think of it as removing everything inside – walls, floors, everything!
👶 For kids: To make the inside of a building empty or broken.
More Examples
They gutted the old warehouse to make it into apartments.
The renovation project involved gutting the entire office space.
How It's Used
"They completely gutted the old building to renovate it."
"The fire gutted the apartment building."
Synonyms
Bowels
Bravery
Courage
Fortitude
Grit
Demolish
Destroy
Idioms & expressions
gut feeling
An intuitive or instinctive feeling or reaction.
"I had a gut feeling that something was wrong."
spit it out/ get it out of your gut
To tell someone something you have been wanting to say.
"Just spit it out!"
to be gutted
To feel extremely disappointed or upset.
"I was completely gutted when I failed the exam."
From Old English *guttas* (plural of *guta*, meaning 'intestine'). Related to Dutch *gut*, German *Gutte*, and Old Norse *gǫtr*. The figurative sense developed over time.
The word 'gut' has been used since Old English times, initially referring to the digestive tract. The figurative uses (courage, destroying interiors) developed later.
Memory tip
Think of the 'gut' as where food goes.