gut check

noun

1. a pause to assess the state, progress, or condition of something such as an enterprise or institution

Example Sentences

With the 2024 season now unsalvageable after an embarrassing loss to the 3-6 Miami Dolphins, Rams players and coaches each need a candid gut check to try to right the ship before the 2025 season kicks off in 10 months.

From Los Angeles Times

He had a pretty embarrassing event with alcohol and the police, and after some tough love from his wife, a “gut check moment”, he decided to not drink again.

From Salon

In a 2018 interview with the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Walz described his arrest as a “gut check moment,” when he recommitted to being a role model to his students.

From Slate

“It’s a gut check,” Chiefs guard Trey Smith said.

From Seattle Times

"The tool not only allows for a more nuanced understanding of complex data, but also can be a 'gut check' -- a way of testing your hypotheses and assumptions," Frachetti said.

From Science Daily