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Victo Posted 16 years ago
Vocabulary
Intestinal fortitude
Intestinal fortitude means "to take a licking and keep on ticking," right? Would this definition, in a jocular sense, apply? Yes or no?
In other words, an athlete can take a thumping and ass-kicking, and you still can't keep him or her down. They bounce back with an unbelievable resiliency of spirit, guts, and determination.
Thanks.
In other words, an athlete can take a thumping and ass-kicking, and you still can't keep him or her down. They bounce back with an unbelievable resiliency of spirit, guts, and determination.
Thanks.
Top answer
For me, someone with intestinal fortitude is someone who can eat almost anything without getting sick or throwing up. You might use the phrase to describe a traveller who manages to eat gruesome, ultra-spicy, or unhygienic things without ill effect. I wouldn't use the phrase to refer to someone who's gutsy or resilient (though a person could also coincidentally be these things).
- For me, someone with intestinal fortitude is someone who can eat almost anything without getting sick or throwing up.
- You might use the phrase to describe a traveller who manages to eat gruesome, ultra-spicy, or unhygienic things without ill effect.
- I wouldn't use the phrase to refer to someone who's gutsy or resilient (though a person could also coincidentally be these things).
- You could, however, use the word 'fortitude' on its own to describe someone who's resilient.
- I can't, at this particular moment, think of a comic idiom that means resilience.
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5 Answers
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For me, someone with intestinal fortitude is someone who can eat almost anything without getting sick or throwing up. You might use the phrase to describe a traveller who manages to eat gruesome, ultra-spicy, or unhygienic things without ill effect.
I wouldn't use the phrase to refer to someone who's gutsy or resilient (though a person could also coincidentally be these things). You could
I wouldn't use the phrase to refer to someone who's gutsy or resilient (though a person could also coincidentally be these things). You could
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FuturistI wouldn't use the phrase to refer to someone who's gutsy or resilient (though a person could also coincidentally be these things).I take the opposite view on this. For me, the meaning is always figurative and has nothing to do with the physical functioning of one's innards.
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Mr WordyI take the opposite view on this. For me, the meaning is always figurative and has nothing to do with the physical functioning of one's innards.I should really have done some googling before posting my answer. The sense that victo and Mr. Wordy refer to is indeed in widespread use.
But the sense I described is also common. Here are some exampl
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I wholeheartedly disagree.
"Intestinal fortitude" refers to endurance, the power to withstand mental or physical hardship or stress.
It is that 'inner strength,' despite fatigue, that carries one over the finish line. The body says no, but the soul says go.
A marathon may very well test a runner's intestinal fortitude.
"Intestinal fortitude" refers to endurance, the power to withstand mental or physical hardship or stress.
It is that 'inner strength,' despite fatigue, that carries one over the finish line. The body says no, but the soul says go.
A marathon may very well test a runner's intestinal fortitude.
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