gut-wrenching decision
1
7.2
- noun
:
decisión desgarradora
- Choosing to end his relationship was a gut-wrenching decision that he struggled with for weeks.
Examples
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With numerous military families sharing their heartbreaking stories of leaving pets behind because they had to choose between affordable, safe housing or keeping their family members, I'm angry they are even faced with such a gut-wrenching decision, especially when no science supports the assertion that an animal's looks are directly tied to their behavior.
Blog text (22) -
After much consideration, she made the gut-wrenching decision to move away for a new job, leaving her friends behind.
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The parents faced a gut-wrenching decision when they had to decide whether to send their sick child for medical treatment far from home.
Synonyms
258
4.2
A situation where you must choose between two or more bad options
Antonyms
How Distressing
Surface Forms
Morphology
gut-wrenching + decision
The phrase combines 'gut' (visceral, stomach/strong feeling) with 'wrenching' (twisting/pain), so there is a clear bodily-pain metaphor that conveys intense emotional distress. However, the emotional/figurative extension is not strictly compositional—learners may infer a general sense but not the full nuance without prior exposure, so it is only partially predictable.
Etymology
Gut-wrenching decision comes from the strong image of your gut being wrenched or twisted, like the tight, sick feeling in your stomach when you are deeply upset. That's why a gut-wrenching decision means a choice that is 'very painful' or 'emotionally distressing' to make.