Get cold feet
/ɡet kəʊld fiːt/informalUK · US
What does “Get cold feet” mean?
Get cold feet means to lose your nerve about something you had agreed to do.
Cold feet arrive after a decision, not before it. The person has already committed and is now reconsidering.
The tone is sympathetic rather than accusing.
When do people say it?
Classically about weddings, but used for any commitment: a purchase, a move, a job offer.
“She got cold feet the night before and cancelled the flight.”
Is it formal or informal?
Register: informal. It is most at home in everyday conversation rather than formal writing. Most common in UK and US.
Where does it come from?
Late nineteenth century, from German and English usage of the same image.
Origin confidence: Reasonably documented
How do you say “Get cold feet” in other languages?
Related idioms
- Bite the bullet, To face something unpleasant with resolve.
- Sit on the fence, To stay deliberately neutral.
Last reviewed 2026-09-11