intestinal fortitude
noun/ɪnˌtestɪnl ˈfɔːtɪtjuːd/, /ˌɪnteˌstaɪnl ˈfɔːtɪtjuːd/
/ɪnˌtestɪnl ˈfɔːrtɪtuːd/, /ˌɪnteˌstaɪnl ˈfɔːrtɪtuːd/
(North American English, formal or humorous)- the courage and strength of mind necessary to do something difficult or unpleasant (used when you want to avoid using the word guts)
- He did not have the intestinal fortitude to implement the changes.
- It’s rare to find a politician with the intestinal fortitude to take a controversial stance.
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intestinal fortitude