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

German savers are getting cold feet about deposits held abroad despite juicier interest rates for fear of getting embroiled in a crisis like the one that hit Silicon Valley Bank, data compiled for Reuters shows.

From Reuters

So what could give league owners, team presidents and general managers cold feet on Bieniemy other than his skin color?

From Washington Post

But, he said, he got cold feet when Yan asked him to write to China’s foreign minister praising the proposal — making him think the whole scheme was connected to the Chinese government.

From Washington Post

"If the government gets cold feet and asks to halt the process of adjustment and tries to renegotiate again, Pakistan will swivel back firmly into where it is facing a balance of payments crisis."

From BBC

The result: some deals fall through as buyers get cold feet.

From Seattle Times