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

It may well get cold feet and remove the line item before the bill makes it to a vote.

From Slate • May 9, 2026

Statements from three officials show inflation fears are giving them cold feet about any more rate cuts.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 2, 2026

There has been no public indication so far that sponsors are getting cold feet.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 24, 2026

With the market suddenly getting cold feet over artificial intelligence, investors have been snapping up shares of long-neglected staples stocks.

From Barron's • Feb. 17, 2026

Our first attempt to explore how consumer product companies exploit class foundered when a major cosmetics company, which initially agreed to let a reporter inside their marketing department, got cold feet.

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times