reaction
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Medical, Financial, Acronyms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
Related to reaction: reaction time
chain reaction
A series of events wherein the outcome of each instance specifically influences or causes the next. The phrase comes from the occurrence of such reactions in chemistry and physics. Deciding to take a course studying James Joyce in college set up a chain reaction that ultimately led me to move to Ireland. When one bookshelf fell, it caused a chain reaction that knocked over all the rest.
gut reaction
A reaction to a situation based on a person's instinct and feelings, rather than on a logical analysis. My initial gut reaction was that the merger would result in a drop in stock prices, but the opposite turned out to be true.
gut reaction to (something)
A reaction to a situation based on a person's instinct and feelings, rather than on a logical analysis. My initial gut reaction to news of the merger was that it would result in a drop in stock prices, but the opposite turned out to be true.
knee-jerk reaction
Any spontaneous, reflexive, and unthinking reaction or response. I know my knee-jerk reaction to the film's ending was mostly negative, but over time I've come to appreciate its subtlety and poignancy. Unsurprisingly, there has been a knee-jerk reaction from many parents to have the book banned from schools.
See also: reaction
knee-jerk reaction
Fig. an automatic or reflex reaction; an immediate reaction made without examining causes or facts. With one of his typical knee-jerk reactions, he said no immediately, citing some moral argument that no one understood.
See also: reaction
chain reaction
A series of events in which each influences or gives rise to the next event, as in If one person collects substantial damages by suing a company, you can expect a chain reaction of such lawsuits . The term originated in the physical sciences, first (1920s) chemistry and later (1940) physics; in the latter it denotes a process of nuclear fission. By the 1940s it had been transferred to more general use.
a gut reaction
COMMON A gut reaction is a reaction that you have immediately and strongly, without thinking about something or being aware of your reasons. At first my gut reaction was to never write again. My heart's loyal to the party but my gut reaction is to vote against the bill.
1. If you describe a task or activity as gut-busting, you mean it is very hard work. It would be hard work, he predicted — back-breaking, gut-busting, unbelievably hard work.
2. You can use gut-busting to describe a very large amount of food. Walker set a record by eating a gut-busting 32 pies.
gut reaction (to something)
n. a basic and immediate response to something. Her gut reaction to the plan is basically a good one.