What Does "Gut Reaction" Mean?
"Gut reaction" is an English idiom. It means "an immediate and instinctive response to a situation or stimulus, often based on one's emotions or intuition rather than deliberate thought."Examples in Sentences
Here are three examples of the idiom "gut reaction" used in a sentence:- Her gut reaction upon meeting him was that he was trustworthy, even though they had just met.
- In a crisis, people often rely on their gut reactions to make split-second decisions.
- Your gut reaction can provide valuable insights and guidance when you need to make quick choices.

What Is an Idiom?
An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Gut Reaction" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.
A Quick Test
You now know what "gut reaction" means, but are you good at English idioms? Let's see!
Gold

Silver

Bronze
- This test has questions.
- A correct answer is worth 5 points.
- You can get up to 5 bonus points for a speedy answer.
- Some questions demand more than one answer. You must get every part right.
- Beware! Wrong answers score 0 points.
- 🏆 If you beat one of the top 3 scores, you will be invited to apply for the Hall of Fame.
Scoring System
Guru (+)
Hero (+)
Captain (+)
Sergeant (+)
Recruit (+)
Guru (+)
Hero (+)
Captain (+)
Sergeant (+)
Recruit (+)
- Do you disagree with something on this page?
- Did you spot a typo?