cold sweat

noun

1. a chill accompanied by perspiration, caused by fear, nervousness, or the like.

cold sweat

noun

1. informal.
   a bodily reaction to fear or nervousness, characterized by chill and moist skin

Word History and Origins

Origin of cold sweat¹

First recorded in 1700–10

Idioms and Phrases

see in a cold sweat .

Example Sentences

I put Taylor Swift on in my earbuds, licked cold sweat from my lip, and returned to the steady pace I’d begun the race with.

From Outside Online

He said his temperature rose by one degree 30 minutes after the shot and when he woke up for his midnight shift at NBC, he experienced cold sweats and a headache which he said is “not normal” for him.

From Washington Blade

The clinic told him that fatigue and the cold sweats were normal side effects of the vaccine.

From Washington Blade

I remember waking up 12 or 13 years ago in the middle of the night in a cold sweat.

From The Daily Beast

When the cold sweat of the bad review dried, another feeling followed that was not at all unpleasant.

From The Daily Beast

A mist came before his eyes, the cold sweat stood upon his ashy face, his limbs failed him, and he sunk upon his knees.

From Project Gutenberg

A cold sweat broke out on my forehead, for I already loved this woman too much not to be overwhelmed by the suspicion.

From Project Gutenberg

My mouth was dry, and I could feel cold sweat trickling down my spine.

From Project Gutenberg

I could not speak, my pulse scarcely beat at all; a cold sweat bathed me from head to foot.

From Project Gutenberg

Your son, moreover, gives you a cold sweat, if your razors happen to be out of their place.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• alarm
• angst
• anxiety
• apprehension
• awe
• concern
• despair
• dismay
• doubt
• dread
• horror
• jitters
• panic
• scare
• suspicion
• terror
• unease
• uneasiness
• worry