# gut out

CEFR C1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/gut-out
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

to keep going through a very difficult or painful situation until it is finished. You use this when you need a lot of mental or physical strength to reach the end.

For teachers: to persevere through a challenging, painful, or tedious experience by exercising willpower. The verb is transitive and frequently takes the dummy pronoun 'it' as a direct object.

## Examples

- You have to gut out the final week of the semester.
- Even though her legs were cramping, she managed to gut out the final set of the tennis match to win the trophy.
- Despite the overwhelming exhaustion and the psychological toll of the expedition, the team resolved to gut out the remaining ascent before the storm arrived.

## Usage notes

- often used with 'it' as a dummy object to mean 'endure the situation'.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'tough it out'; 'gut out' implies a more visceral, physical level of determination often found in sports contexts.

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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.