Get Cold Feet.
English
idiom
Feel nervous or anxious before doing something important or challenging.
Trusted by1.5M+English learners & teachers worldwide
Feel nervous or anxious before doing something important or challenging.
Trusted by1.5M+English learners & teachers worldwide
To suddenly lose confidence or courage and hesitate before doing something.
When you get cold feet, you were ready to do something but at the last moment you become afraid or uncertain.
It's most commonly used for big commitments like weddings, major decisions, or risky plans.
"Lose Your Nerve"
—
To lose courage in a dangerous or high-pressure situation
"Have Second Thoughts"
—
To reconsider a decision more calmly, weighing the pros and cons
"Get Cold Feet"
—
Suddenly losing confidence and hesitating just before a big commitment
I thought you were going to pitch the idea to the board today?
I got cold feet — I'm going to refine it a bit more first.
You seem hesitant about the move — are you having doubts?
A little — I got cold feet when I started thinking about leaving everything behind.
Did you end up doing the bungee jump?
No — I completely got cold feet standing at the top.
