get cold feet

Meaning

To suddenly feel nervous, anxious, or doubtful about doing something you had previously planned to do, often resulting in backing out of the commitment. It is very commonly used for big life events like weddings, job changes, or major purchases.

Examples

• He was supposed to go skydiving, but he got cold feet at the last minute.

  He was supposed to go skydiving, but he got cold feet at the last minute.

• Are you getting cold feet about moving to London, or are you just tired?

  Are you getting cold feet about moving to London, or are you just tired?

• The investor got cold feet and pulled his money out of the startup.

  The investor got cold feet and pulled his money out of the startup.

• She almost got cold feet before her wedding, but her sister calmed her down.

  She almost got cold feet before her wedding, but her sister calmed her down.

• Don't get cold feet now; we have spent months preparing for this presentation!

  Don't get cold feet now; we have spent months preparing for this presentation!

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I have cold feet about the exam.

  ✓ I am getting cold feet about the exam.

  While 'have cold feet' is grammatically possible, native speakers almost always use the dynamic verb 'get' ('get cold feet') to describe the sudden onset of fear.

• ✗ He got cold foots before the big game.

  ✓ He got cold feet before the big game.

  Even though 'feet' is plural, the idiom is fixed. Never use 'foots' or change it to singular 'cold foot'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The groom ___ and didn't show up to the wedding.

  💡 Suddenly became too nervous to go through with it (past tense)

  Show answer

  got cold feet

• If you start to ___, just remember why we decided to do this in the first place.

  💡 Develop doubts or anxiety about a plan

  Show answer

  get cold feet