# gut check

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/gut-check
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

An honest, reflective appraisal of one's true feelings concerning a matter of concern.

## Examples

- I need a gut check before I accept this job.
- Before we sign the contract, let's do a quick gut check to see if this feels right.
- The leader paused for a final gut check, weighing his personal intuition against the cold, hard data presented by his advisors.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.