cold feet, get

Idioms and Phrases

Also, have cold feet . Retreat from an undertaking; lose one's nerve. For example, I got cold feet when I learned the trip involves white-water rafting , or Don't count on including her—she's been known to have cold feet in the past . The origin of this term has been lost. In early 17th-century Italy it meant to be short of money, but that sense has never been used in English. [Late 1800s]

Example Sentences

There’s plenty of recent history to show how both prediction market creators and government regulators get cold feet when these platforms are given free rein and try to operate at scale.

From Slate

Too many at all levels get cold feet and opt to wait for the “right time” to run.

From Los Angeles Times

Because he may be in the "uncomfortable position" of bringing the case without "being confident" of the outcome, "Bragg might get cold feet as well, and not fight that hard for a pre-election trial," Germain explained.

From Salon

Dr Parr argues that data centre operators will get cold feet when revised costings emerge to render SMRs uncompetitive compared with renewable energy sources.

From BBC

Newey has come close to joining Ferrari at least twice, only to get cold feet at the key moment.

From BBC

Related Words

• back down
• cancel
• give up
• renege
• surrender