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Glite Dictionary
to go with one's first instinct

to go with one's first instinct

1 5.3
Decide using your first feeling instead of thinking too much
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : seguir la primera intuición
  • Even if it feels risky, sometimes you just have to go with your first instinct and trust your gut feeling.

Examples

  • In interviews, you should go with your first instinct when answering questions, as it often reveals your true thoughts.

  • Looks like he should have gone with his first instinct.

    Blog text (32)

  • When faced with a tough decision, it's best to go with your first instinct rather than overanalyze the situation.

Synonyms

to go with one's gut
vsto go with one's first instinct
  • Informal
1 7.2

To follow your first feeling without thinking much

emphasizes the very first intuition rather than later thought
to run with instincts
vsto go with one's first instinct
7.7

To follow your natural feelings when making a decision

focuses on the initial intuition as the guide not analysis
to trust your hunch
vsto go with one's first instinct
6.5

Act on a feeling that something is right without checking facts

uses the first immediate feeling rather than a cautious tentative idea

Antonyms

to overthink
33 4.9

To think about something too much so you cannot decide or act

to second-guess
  • Informal
27 6.1

To criticize a decision after you know the result

How Intuitive

to go with one's first instinct
  • Informal
1 5.3

Surface Forms

go with one's first instinct infinitive
going with one's first instinct present participle
goes with one's first instinct third person singular
went with one's first instinct past
gone with one's first instinct past participle

Morphology

go + with + one + first + instinct

The meaning is directly inferable from the parts: 'go with' (to follow/agree with) plus 'one's first instinct' (one's initial intuition). This is a straightforward verb + prepositional phrase combining a common motion/choice verb with a transparent noun phrase, a pattern found cross-linguistically and therefore likely understandable to a B1 learner who knows the constituent words.

Etymology

Go with one's first instinct comes from the simple image of seeing something and having a quick first feeling; to go with that first instinct is to follow your first feeling instead of thinking too much. That's why it means 'to decide or act according to your first, quick feeling'.