In the USA, people often use colorful phrases to talk about courage and determination. One popular way is through idioms about “guts.” These expressions don’t mean the literal organs inside your body. Instead, they describe bravery, boldness, or the will to face challenges. From sports teams to business leaders, Americans use these sayings to inspire confidence and action.
Idioms about guts can fit many situations. They might describe someone standing up for a friend, trying something risky, or refusing to quit even when things get hard. Learning these idioms helps you understand everyday American conversations and makes your own speech more vivid. In this article, we’ll explore 28 idioms about guts, what they mean, and how to use them in real life.
Idioms About Guts
1. Have the guts
Meaning: To have the courage to do something.
Example Sentence:
• She had the guts to try out for the school play.
• He finally had the guts to talk to his favorite baseball player.
Other ways to say: Be brave, show courage
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase links bravery to the stomach, since people once thought emotions came from there.
Usage: Used when someone does something bold or brave.
2. Bust a gut
Meaning: To try very hard to do something.
Example Sentence:
• He busted a gut to finish his science project on time.
• They busted a gut to clean the park before the picnic.
Other ways to say: Work hard, put in effort
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the idea of straining so hard it feels like your stomach could burst.
Usage: Used when talking about working very hard.
3. Butterflies in your stomach
Meaning: Feeling nervous before something happens.
Example Sentence:
• She had butterflies in her stomach before giving her speech.
• He felt butterflies in his stomach before the baseball game.
Other ways to say: Feel nervous, have jitters
Fun Fact/Origin: The “fluttering” feeling of nerves is compared to butterflies moving inside you.
Usage: Used when someone is anxious about an event.
4. Go with your gut
Meaning: To trust your feelings or instincts.
Example Sentence:
• He went with his gut and chose the smaller job offer because it felt right.
• She went with her gut and joined the art club.
Other ways to say: Follow your instincts, trust yourself
Fun Fact/Origin: People once believed the stomach was the center of feelings.
Usage: Used when making choices based on instinct instead of facts.
5. Hate someone’s guts
Meaning: To dislike someone strongly.
Example Sentence:
• She hated his guts after he lied to her.
• He hated their guts for ruining the surprise party.
Other ways to say: Dislike, despise
Fun Fact/Origin: An old way of saying you dislike everything about someone, even their insides.
Usage: Used when you really dislike a person.
6. Gut feeling
Meaning: A strong inner sense about something.
Example Sentence:
• My gut feeling was that it would rain today.
• She had a gut feeling that her team would win.
Other ways to say: Intuition, hunch
Fun Fact/Origin: People connect deep feelings with the stomach because stress and emotion can affect it.
Usage: Used when talking about instincts.
7. Spill your guts
Meaning: To tell all your secrets.
Example Sentence:
• He spilled his guts about what happened at the party.
• She spilled her guts to her best friend after the game.
Other ways to say: Confess, tell everything
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the image of emptying everything inside you.
Usage: Used when someone reveals a lot of information.
8. Gut reaction
Meaning: An immediate emotional response.
Example Sentence:
• Her gut reaction was to say yes to the trip.
• His gut reaction was to run when the dog barked.
Other ways to say: First reaction, quick feeling
Fun Fact/Origin: Like “gut feeling,” this ties instinct to the stomach.
Usage: Used when talking about first responses to something.
9. Scream your guts out
Meaning: To yell very loudly.
Example Sentence:
• The fans screamed their guts out at the concert.
• She screamed her guts out on the roller coaster.
Other ways to say: Yell loudly, shout hard
Fun Fact/Origin: Suggests shouting so much it feels like your insides are coming out.
Usage: Used when talking about very loud yelling.
10. Work your guts out
Meaning: To work extremely hard.
Example Sentence:
• He worked his guts out to win the contest.
• They worked their guts out to fix the playground.
Other ways to say: Work hard, put in effort
Fun Fact/Origin: Similar to “bust a gut,” it shows extreme effort.
Usage: Used for situations where someone works very hard.
11. Kick someone in the guts
Meaning: To upset or disappoint someone badly.
Example Sentence:
• Losing the championship felt like a kick in the guts.
• Hearing the bad news was like being kicked in the guts.
Other ways to say: Hurt deeply, crush someone
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from the painful feeling of being struck in the stomach.
Usage: Used when something is emotionally upsetting.
12. Have a lot of guts
Meaning: To be very brave.
Example Sentence:
• It takes a lot of guts to stand up to a bully.
• She has a lot of guts to sing solo in front of the whole school.
Other ways to say: Be fearless, be bold
Fun Fact/Origin: Links bravery to inner strength in your stomach.
Usage: Used to praise someone’s courage.
13. Gut-wrenching
Meaning: Extremely upsetting or distressing.
Example Sentence:
• It was gut-wrenching to see the injured player leave the game.
• The movie’s ending was gut-wrenching.
Other ways to say: Heartbreaking, very upsetting
Fun Fact/Origin: Suggests a feeling so strong it twists your stomach.
Usage: Used for describing strong emotional pain.
14. Go for the gut
Meaning: To attack the most vulnerable part.
Example Sentence:
• The lawyer went for the gut with tough questions.
• The team went for the gut by using their best player early.
Other ways to say: Hit where it hurts, target weakness
Fun Fact/Origin: Based on the idea that the stomach is a soft, vulnerable spot.
Usage: Used when targeting a key weakness.
15. Guts and glory
Meaning: Courage and great achievement.
Example Sentence:
• The football season was all about guts and glory.
• He chased guts and glory in the boxing ring.
Other ways to say: Bravery and success, honor and courage
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used in sports and military talk in the USA.
Usage: Used when bravery leads to great success.
16. Cut to the gut
Meaning: To cause emotional pain quickly.
Example Sentence:
• His harsh words cut to the gut.
• The coach’s criticism cut to the gut.
Other ways to say: Hurt deeply, sting
Fun Fact/Origin: Compares sudden emotional hurt to a stomach wound.
Usage: Used when something said or done hurts deeply.
17. Blood and guts
Meaning: Violence or intense action.
Example Sentence:
• The movie was full of blood and guts.
• The video game had too much blood and guts for young kids.
Other ways to say: Extreme action, gore
Fun Fact/Origin: Refers to literal violence in war or sports.
Usage: Used when describing intense, often violent, scenes.
18. Have the guts of a burglar
Meaning: To be daring or fearless.
Example Sentence:
• He had the guts of a burglar asking for more candy after taking two.
• She has the guts of a burglar speaking to the principal like that.
Other ways to say: Be daring, be bold
Fun Fact/Origin: Burglars are seen as bold risk-takers.
Usage: Used when someone does something bold without fear.
19. No guts, no glory
Meaning: Without bravery, there’s no reward.
Example Sentence:
• He tried out for the team—no guts, no glory.
• No guts, no glory, she thought, and entered the contest.
Other ways to say: Be brave to win, risk for reward
Fun Fact/Origin: Popular in sports and military sayings.
Usage: Used to inspire people to take risks.
20. Spill your guts out
Meaning: To tell everything in great detail.
Example Sentence:
• He spilled his guts out during the interview.
• She spilled her guts out to her mom about the prank.
Other ways to say: Confess everything, tell all
Fun Fact/Origin: A more intense form of “spill your guts.”
Usage: Used when someone reveals a lot openly.
21. Have the guts to stand alone
Meaning: To be brave even without support.
Example Sentence:
• She had the guts to stand alone when everyone disagreed.
• He had the guts to stand alone for what’s right.
Other ways to say: Be independent, stand your ground
Fun Fact/Origin: Shows courage in isolation.
Usage: Used when someone defends their beliefs without help.
22. Tear your guts out
Meaning: To cause great emotional pain.
Example Sentence:
• It tore my guts out to see them leave.
• Losing that game tore his guts out.
Other ways to say: Break someone’s heart, devastate
Fun Fact/Origin: Suggests such deep hurt it feels physical.
Usage: Used for moments of deep sadness.
23. Have your guts churn
Meaning: To feel upset or uneasy.
Example Sentence:
• His guts churned when he saw the scary movie.
• The speech made her guts churn with nervousness.
Other ways to say: Feel uneasy, feel sick inside
Fun Fact/Origin: Stress and fear can cause stomach discomfort.
Usage: Used when describing nervous or upset feelings.
24. Gutsy move
Meaning: A bold or brave action.
Example Sentence:
• It was a gutsy move to shoot from half-court.
• Starting his own business was a gutsy move.
Other ways to say: Bold step, brave action
Fun Fact/Origin: “Gutsy” is slang for courageous in the USA.
Usage: Used to praise bold choices.
25. Pour your guts out
Meaning: To share your deepest feelings.
Example Sentence:
• She poured her guts out in her diary.
• He poured his guts out to his best friend.
Other ways to say: Open up, share feelings
Fun Fact/Origin: Similar to “spill your guts,” but more emotional.
Usage: Used when someone shares personal emotions.
26. Have the guts to face the music
Meaning: To accept responsibility for your actions.
Example Sentence:
• He had the guts to face the music after breaking the vase.
• She had the guts to face the music when her plan failed.
Other ways to say: Take responsibility, own up
Fun Fact/Origin: “Face the music” means to deal with the results of your actions.
Usage: Used when someone admits fault or faces consequences.
27. Gut it out
Meaning: To keep going even when it’s hard.
Example Sentence:
• She gutted it out and finished the marathon.
• He gutted it out until the end of practice.
Other ways to say: Push through, hang in there
Fun Fact/Origin: Suggests using inner strength to keep going.
Usage: Used in sports, work, or challenges.
28. Have the guts to dream big
Meaning: To be bold in your goals and ambitions.
Example Sentence:
• He had the guts to dream big and start his own company.
• She had the guts to dream big about becoming an astronaut.
Other ways to say: Aim high, think big
Fun Fact/Origin: Ties bravery to daring goals.
Usage: Used when encouraging big, bold dreams.
Quiz: Idioms About Guts
Instructions: Choose the best answer for each question. There is only one correct answer for each.
Question Key
1. If someone says “He has the guts to try,” what does it mean?
A) He has a lot of friends
B) He is brave enough to try
C) He has a strong stomach
2. What does “go with your gut” mean?
A) Eat more food
B) Trust your feelings
C) Take a nap
3. If a movie is called “gut-wrenching,” what should you expect?
A) It will be very funny
B) It will be very upsetting
C) It will be about cooking
4. When someone “spills their guts,” they are:
A) Sharing all their secrets
B) Playing a sport
C) Eating too fast
5. What does “no guts, no glory” mean?
A) You must be brave to succeed
B) You should never take risks
C) You win without trying
6. If something “kicks you in the guts,” how do you feel?
A) Happy and excited
B) Surprised in a good way
C) Hurt or deeply upset
7. A “gutsy move” is:
A) A very bold action
B) A silly mistake
C) A slow decision
8. If you “gut it out,” what are you doing?
A) Quitting early
B) Pushing through a hard situation
C) Taking a break
9. “Blood and guts” usually describes:
A) A peaceful picnic
B) A violent or intense scene
C) A funny story
10. If you have a “gut feeling” about something, it means:
A) You have a stomachache
B) You have a strong inner sense about it
C) You read it in the news
Answer Key
- b) He is brave enough to try
- b) Trust your feelings
- b) It will be very upsetting
- a) Sharing all their secrets
- a) You must be brave to succeed
- c) Hurt or deeply upset
- a) A very bold action
- b) Pushing through a hard situation
- b) A violent or intense scene
- b) You have a strong inner sense about it
Wrapping Up
Idioms about guts are a big part of everyday talk in the USA. They help describe bravery, bold actions, and even nervousness in a way that feels alive and real. Whether it’s “go with your gut” for trusting instincts or “gut it out” for pushing through tough times, these sayings connect to moments we all face.
Learning them not only makes conversations more interesting, it also helps you understand how Americans express courage and determination in daily life. Next time you hear one, you’ll know the meaning—and maybe have the guts to use it yourself.
