cold feet
Last-minute nerves
Cold feet is a loss of nerve or confidence, especially before a significant commitment.
The phrase most often describes pre-wedding anxiety: He got cold feet and called off the engagement.
But it applies to any situation where someone backs out due to sudden doubt: She was going to confront her boss but got cold feet at the last minute.
Doubts after deciding
- misgivingsFeelings of doubt
- qualmsMoral reservations or unease
- uncertaintyState of being unsure
- hesitationDelay from uncertainty
reservations · indecision · wavering · ambivalence · skepticism · reluctance · vacillation · tentativeness
Intense anticipatory fear
- trepidationFearful uncertainty
- panicUncontrollable sudden fear
- frightSudden intense fear
- cowardiceAbsence of bravery
timidity · faintheartedness · terror · alarm · foreboding · nightmare · cold sweat · shiver
State of anxious unease
- jittersNervous agitation
- butterfliesFluttering insects or nervousness
- worryTroubled mental state
- uneaseMild persistent worry
apprehension · nerves · angst · edginess · restlessness · agitation · tension · stress
Marriage rite and feast
- engagementCommitment to wed or attend
- marriageFormal union between partners
- proposalFormal plan for consideration
- altarSacred ritual table
contract · deal · investment · partnership · vows · signing · closing · decision
second thoughts
Doubts after deciding
- misgivingsFeelings of doubt
- qualmsMoral reservations or unease
- uncertaintyState of being unsure
hesitation · reservations · indecision · wavering · ambivalence · skepticism · reluctance · vacillation · tentativeness · equivocation
dread
Intense anticipatory fear
- trepidationFearful uncertainty
- panicUncontrollable sudden fear
- frightSudden intense fear
cowardice · timidity · faintheartedness · terror · alarm · foreboding · nightmare · cold sweat · shiver · tremble
nervousness
State of anxious unease
- jittersNervous agitation
- butterfliesFluttering insects or nervousness
- worryTroubled mental state
unease · apprehension · nerves · angst · edginess · restlessness · agitation · tension · stress · disquiet
wedding
Marriage rite and feast
- engagementCommitment to wed or attend
- marriageFormal union between partners
- proposalFormal plan for consideration
altar · contract · deal · investment · partnership · vows · signing · closing · decision · leap
- Cold Sensationschill, chills, shiver, shivers, shivering
- idiomstime flies, hit the sack, seize the day, ring a bell, break a leg
- performance anxietystage fright, choking, freezing up, jitters, nerves
- temperature idiomshot head, in hot water, hot under the collar, cool as a cucumber, hot potato
- anemia symptomsfatigue, weakness, pallor, pale skin, dizziness
- vascular responsesvasodilation, vasoconstriction, flushing, blushing, pallor
cold feeteagerness
Intense willingness to act
enthusiasm · readiness · raring to go · all in · gung-ho
coldness, cold-blooded, cold snap, cold-hearted, get cold feet, cold shoulder