verb phrase🎓 English idiom
get cold feet
to become nervous and hesitant
What it means
To suddenly become too nervous or afraid to do something you had planned, especially just before it happens. It is frequently used about big commitments like weddings, deals, or public performances.
Examples
- He got cold feet on the morning of the wedding and almost didn't show up.
- Investors got cold feet and pulled out just before the deal was signed.
- I was going to ask for a raise, but I got cold feet at the last minute.
- She nearly got cold feet before her speech, then walked on stage anyway.
Where it comes from
The phrase appeared in English in the late 19th century, with an early use by novelist Stephen Crane in 1896. Its exact source is uncertain, though some link it to a German expression meaning to have no money for a gamble.
Related idioms
🎓 Think you know your idioms?
Take the English Idioms Test — 20 terms, instant result, no signup.
Take the testBuilt by the team behind Deep In.