English Idiom – Cold feet.
A sudden fear of doing something you had planned to do. If you get cold feet, you become nervous and start having second thoughts about a decision or commitment.
Note: Second thoughts means reconsidering a decision or opinion.
This expression is often used before important life events – especially before tying the knot (idiom). We usually say someone gets or has cold feet.
Related Idioms:
- Chicken out (idiom) – avoid doing something because you’re afraid.
- Butterflies in the stomach (idiom) – a nervous feeling in your stomach.
Usage:
- Feeling doubts about getting married or engaged.
- Before performing on stage or giving a speech.
- Having second thoughts about a parachute jump or bungee jump.
Example:
- “I hope she doesn’t get cold feet before the wedding next week.”
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Look it upGet cold feetWiktionaryWhat is an idiom?
An idiom is a word or phrase that is not taken literally. An idiom is an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its individual words, but has a separate meaning of its own.
Frequently Asked Questions
A sudden fear or doubt about something you had planned to do, such as getting married.
We usually say “get cold feet” or “have cold feet”.
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