cold feet

American  

noun

Informal.

1. a loss or lack of courage or confidence; an onset of uncertainty or fear.

   She got cold feet when asked to sing a solo.

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cold feet British  

plural noun

1. informal  loss or lack of courage or confidence

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cold feet Cultural  

1. To “have cold feet” is to be too fearful to undertake or complete an action: “The backup quarterback was called into the game, but he got cold feet and refused to go in.”

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Etymology

Origin of cold feet

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

More buyers are feeling anxious about their job security, triggering cold feet before closing in some cases, according to real-estate agents.

From The Wall Street Journal

The very next day, her buyers got cold feet.

From MarketWatch

For years, record companies had expressed interest, then got cold feet.

From BBC

But the parent started to "get cold feet" as the process went on when they realised how life-changing this role would be.

From BBC

The financial sector appears to be getting cold feet about efforts to curb the effects of climate change.

From Salon