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Meaning & use

guts

noun·Everydayinformal

Last updated

UK/ɡʌts/
US/ɡʌts/

Meanings

  1. nounplural

    The courage and determination needed to do something hard or frightening.

    Grammar: Always plural in this sense but takes no article: it takes guts.

    Patterns

    • have the guts to do something
    • it takes guts to do something

    It takes guts to speak up in a crowded meeting.

    She didn't have the guts to quit her job.

    He showed real guts in the final round.

  2. nounplural

    The organs inside the body, especially the intestines.

    Grammar: Plural and informal: the guts of a fish.

    Patterns

    • the guts of an animal

    The cook removed the guts of the fish.

    A sharp pain twisted in his guts.

    The vet examined the animal's guts.

  3. nounplural

    The inner working parts or most important part of something.

    Grammar: Used with the: the guts of a machine.

    Patterns

    • the guts of something

    He opened the laptop to show the guts of the machine.

    The guts of the plan are simple.

    We went through the guts of the contract.

Common combinations

have the guts
I didn't have the guts to tell her.
takes guts
It takes guts to start a business.
hate someone's guts
She hates his guts after the argument.
spill your guts
He spilled his guts to the police.
gut feeling
I had a gut feeling the trip was a mistake.
blood and guts
The film is full of blood and guts.

Synonyms and how they differ

courage
Courage is neutral and formal, while guts is informal and blunt.
nerve
Nerve also means boldness but can suggest rudeness, while guts is plain bravery.
bravery
Bravery is a general quality, while guts focuses on facing a specific hard moment.
intestines
Intestines is the medical word for the guts of the body.

Opposites

cowardicetimidity

Word family

gutsy adjective
brave and determined
gut noun
the intestines, or the stomach area
gut verb
to remove the insides, or to destroy the inside of a building

Commonly confused: guts or gut?

guts vs gut

The singular gut usually means the intestines or an instinctive feeling; guts is the plural with the courage sense.

Practice

What does it mean to say 'It takes guts to apologize'?

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