What it means
That little hunch in your stomach when something feels off, or strangely right, before you can explain why. It’s basically your brain doing the maths in the background and sending up a flare. You’ll hear it when a deal sounds too good, a date gives weird vibes, or you’re eyeing a suspect takeaway. Ignore it at your peril.
Usage examples
"I had a gut feeling that job was a mess, so I passed. Two weeks later they rang back, already hiring again."
"I had a gut feeling about that flat the moment I walked in, signed the lease two days later."
"Trust your gut feeling on this hire, the CV looks fine but something feels off in the interview."
"I've got a gut feeling he's chatting bare nonsense, so I'm not lending him twenty quid."
"Had a gut feeling that takeaway chicken was gonna fight back, and yeah, my stomach's writing formal complaints today."
Got something to say?
Edit, fix or tell us something. We review it and, if it is true, you will see it applied with your name on it.
Where it comes from
This one’s straight-up everyday English built from older links between the gut and instinct. English had gut reaction and know it in your gut knocking about long before gut feeling got common. It stuck because it gives a neat name to that body-first sense that shows up before you can fully explain yourself.
Other ways to say it
Editors of this term
Your vote counts
Is this real street talk or have we lost the plot? Cast your vote.
