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

No Cold Feet, which is based in Chicago, specializes in men’s wedding socks and labels.

From New York Times • Oct. 23, 2018

Cold Feet, of all shows, shocked, in the third episode of its fifth series, broadcast in 2003.

From The Guardian • Feb. 19, 2018

The Cold Feet revival shows no sign of abating, with ITV announcing another series of the romantic comedy drama.

From BBC • Oct. 31, 2017

Returning to Cold Feet after more than a decade since it was last seen on TV felt like "putting on an old jumper", Fay Ripley has said.

From BBC • Aug. 5, 2016

Cold Feet slipped into a chair and, interlacing those fingers whose delicacy baffled and disturbed Sinclair, stared over them at his companion.

From The Rangeland Avenger by Brand, Max