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cold feet
/koʊld fiːt/◆idiom
loss of nerve
He was going to propose, but got cold feet at the last minute.
He hesitated and lost his courage just before proposing.
informal
to suddenly feel too nervous or afraid to do something you had planned to do
She was about to quit her job, but got cold feet when she thought about her mortgage payments.
She hesitated to resign due to fear of financial instability.
Many athletes get cold feet before a big competition.
Many athletes experience sudden nervousness before major events.
Commonly used in situations involving personal courage, decision-making, or public speaking.
Collocations
have cold feetexperience sudden nervousnessget cold feetbecome suddenly nervous
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Context matters
Use 'cold feet' for sudden, often last-minute hesitation, not for planned avoidance or procrastination.
Gold Rule
Idiom vs. Literal
Never use 'cold feet' to describe someone who is physically cold; it always refers to nervousness or fear.
Word Origin
First recorded in the early 20th century; likely derived from the literal sense of cold feet causing physical discomfort, metaphorically linked to emotional discomfort or fear.
Usage Notes
Often used in contexts where someone backs out of an action due to sudden fear, anxiety, or doubt. Not typically used for long-term hesitation.
Word Breakdown
cold
lacking warmth or enthusiasm
adjectivefeet
plural of foot
nounEnglish Dictionary