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)

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.
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.