in a cold sweat

Idioms and Phrases

Feeling nervous or terrified, as in When I looked over the cliff, I broke out in a cold sweat . This expression refers to perspiring accompanied by a feeling of cold, which can be induced by acute fear as well as by fever. [Late 1700s]

Example Sentences

Charles Green, Imran Ahmad, Derek Llambias, Barry Leach, David Somers - all these and more still have the capacity to make some on the current board break out in a cold sweat.

From BBC

I awoke in a cold sweat, comforted by the realization that I was still at home.

From Los Angeles Times

“I swear I broke out in a cold sweat.”

From New York Times

I woke in a cold sweat of reality.

From Salon

No wonder I woke up in a cold sweat.

From Salon

Related Words

• afraid
• concerned
• doubtful
• jittery
• jumpy
• suspicious
• uncertain
• uneasy
• uptight