- An adjective meaning extremely disappointed, devastated, or saddened by something.
Explanation
Origin
- Metaphorical. It evokes the feeling of having one's internal organs ('guts') removed, implying a deep, hollowing sense of shock, disappointment, or sadness.
- Became popular in British slang, possibly in the latter half of the 20th century, often associated with sports results initially.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Bummed out. (Milder disappointment)
- Down in the dumps. (Feeling sad/depressed)
- Sick as a parrot. (UK slang, often for sports disappointment)
Milder:
- Really disappointed.
- Very upset.
More Formal:
- Deeply disappointed.
- Greatly saddened.
Situational Appropriateness
- Informal to semi-formal, primarily in British, Australian, and New Zealand English.
- Used among friends, family, and colleagues (depending on workplace culture).
- While informal, it conveys strong emotion, so it's suitable for significant disappointments.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- North Americans might understand it but find it slightly unusual.
- The main potential misunderstanding is underestimating the strength of the emotion; it implies more than just mild disappointment. It's closer to 'devastated'.
Examples
- He was absolutely gutted when his team lost the final.
- I was gutted to hear that I didn't get the promotion.
- She felt gutted after the breakup.
Dialogue
Person A: Did you hear back about the job interview?
Person B: Yeah, I didn't get it. I'm absolutely gutted, I really wanted it.
Person A: Oh mate, I'm so sorry to hear that. You must be gutted. That's really tough luck.
Social Media Examples
- Tweet (UK user): Absolutely gutted about the match result tonight. We played our hearts out. #Football #Disappointed
- Facebook Post (Aus user): Just found out the festival is cancelled. Gutted! Was so looking forward to it.
- Comment on a friend's post about a setback: Oh no, heard your news. So gutted for you, mate.
Response Patterns
- Sympathy: Oh no, I'm so sorry. / That's awful. / I can imagine.
- Acknowledgment: Yeah, must be tough.
- Inquiry: What happened? (If context isn't known)
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After hearing someone is gutted:
- Offer support or condolences: Let me know if you need anything.
- Ask for more details if appropriate, showing concern.
After saying I'm gutted:
- Might elaborate on the reason for the deep disappointment.
- Might show physical signs of sadness or deflation.
Conversation Starter
- No. Describes a state of feeling, usually in response to a situation or question.
Intonation
- Emphasis often on the first syllable: GUT-ted.
- Spoken with a tone reflecting deep disappointment or sadness.
- Can be preceded by intensifiers like 'absolutely', 'totally', 'completely'.
Generation Differences
- Common across various adult generations in the regions where it's prevalent.
Regional Variations
- Chiefly British, Australian, and New Zealand English.
- Understood in North America due to media exposure, but not commonly used by Americans or Canadians themselves. They would more likely say devastated, crushed, or really bummed.