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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cold feet

A firm show of retaliation from China could also give officials cold feet, said Noah Barkin, an analyst with Rhodium Group in Berlin.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026

When the market fell sharply last year in reaction to the tariffs, I did get cold feet and told her we might have to work another three years.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 13, 2026

I avoided my publisher for so long that they probably suspected I got cold feet.

From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026

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

From Slate ● May 9, 2026

I didn’t want to give cold feet a chance to show up.

From "We'll Fly Away" by Bryan Bliss

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