# gut reaction

idiom

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

## Meaning

A visceral reaction that arises with little accompanying thought or even (sometimes) no thought.

## Examples

- My gut reaction is to say no.
- I did not have time to analyze the data, so I followed my gut reaction and chose the first option.
- While the evidence suggested a logical path forward, his gut reaction warned him that something was fundamentally wrong with the proposal.

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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.