split a gut

English

Verb

split a gut (third-person singular simple present splits a gut, present participle splitting a gut, simple past and past participle split a gut)

1. Alternative form of bust a gut (any sense)
   • 1960, Alexander Fedoroff, The Side of the Angels, page 329:

     Even if Truman splits his gut, he won't get a majority of electoral votes.

   • 2006, Donna Andrews, Murder With Peacocks:

     “I like to split a gut laughing the first time I saw a bride in a miniskirt,” Mrs. Fenniman cackled.

   • 2012, Gwendolyn Hoff, The Life and Times of a Black Southern Doctor, page 222:

     "...Daddy looks so happy, look at him with that golf club,“ she points to a picture of Matthew the senior showing John how to hold it, both of them about to split a gut.

   • 2014, J L Daniels, Mirror Opposites, page 24:

     Disgustingly vulgar trash to her; trash that her half-brother and others in hilarious laughter split a gut over.

2. To lose one's temper.
   • 1966, Louis-Ferdinand C'Line, Louis Ferdinand Destouches, Ralph Manheim, Death on the Installment Plan, page 131:

     The customer would split a gut and threaten to haul us into court.

   • 1974, Paul A. Hauck, Overcoming Frustration and Anger, page 32:

     Don't split a gut over them and create a super frustration such as a fight or series of fights that may lead to a divorce.

   • 2009, Joyce Magnin, The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow:

     The thing is Personal didn't know about Tohilda's membership in the society and would probably split a gut if he found out she gave a portion of his profits to help the less fortunate.