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Misery guts
01
a person who is unhappy and keeps complaining a lot
Dialect
British
British
Humorous
Idiom
Informal
Grammatical Information
Animacy status
animate
Plural form
misery guts
What is the origin of the idiom "misery guts" and when to use it?
The term "misery guts" is a colloquial phrase that combines two words: "misery" and "guts." The origin of the phrase is uncertain, but it likely emerged as a playful and informal way to describe someone who is consistently unhappy or miserable. It is used to describe a person who is constantly gloomy, grumpy, or prone to complaining. It implies that the person's disposition or attitude is characterized by a lack of joy or contentment, as if their guts are filled with misery.
Examples
His constant pessimism and complaints make him come across as a misery guts to everyone.
