gets cold feet
Backs out nervously
Gets cold feet means to lose confidence or become fearful about something you had planned or committed to do.
The phrase typically appears just before a significant event—a wedding, a business deal, a major decision: She was ready to sign the contract but got cold feet at the last minute.
The implication is that nervousness overtakes earlier resolve.
- chickens outAbandons plan from fear
- fearEmotional response to threat
- commitmentFirm pledge to act
- marriageFormal union between partners
- wedding dayDay of marriage
job interviews · last minute · indecision · hesitation · wavering · anxiety · second-guessing · change of heart · postponement · no show · contracts · apprehension · jilted · promises · freezing up · reconsideration · withdrawal · doubt
gets cold feettakes the plunge
Acts despite uncertainty
follows through · commits · bites the bullet · doubles down · holds firm
gets, getting, cold, colder, coldest, coldly, coldness, colds, feet