Idiom
gutted
Meanings
Extremely disappointed, upset, or devastated about an outcome.
Having the inside removed or stripped out; emptied of contents (literal).
Definition
If you are gutted, you feel extremely disappointed or upset.
When someone says they are gutted, they mean they feel very sad, shocked, or disappointed, often because something important went wrong. It is a common informal word in British English, especially about bad news, losing, or missing out. It describes a strong emotional reaction rather than physical harm.
Examples
- I was gutted when I didn’t get the job.
- She felt absolutely gutted after the final whistle.
- They were gutted to miss the last train home.
- He’s gutted that his holiday got cancelled.
- We were gutted when the tickets sold out.
Common mistake
Learners sometimes use gutted for mild disappointment, but it usually expresses a very strong feeling.
More at B2 level
- Bob's your uncle Used to say that something will be easy or will happen exactly as expected after a simple step.
- touch base To touch base means to briefly contact someone to share updates, confirm plans, or check progress.
- ballpark figure A ballpark figure is an approximate number or estimate, not an exact one.
- take the mickey To take the mickey means to mock someone or tease them in an unkind or cheeky way.
- cheap as chips Very cheap; costing very little money.