English Expression · Intermediate
gut check
An honest, reflective appraisal of one's true feelings concerning a matter of concern
Pronunciation: say gut check
Meaning
An honest, reflective appraisal of one's true feelings concerning a matter of concern.
Example
"I told them what we needed was a gut check to see whether we had the stomach to go ahead."
"I told them what we needed was a gut check to see whether we had the stomach to go ahead."
Practice tips
- Practice gut check out loud — read the pronunciation guide above and repeat.
- Use it in your own sentence today; reuse beats rereading.
- Pay attention to context: this English expression is for intermediate-level learners.