lose one's nerve
Get cold feet
To lose one's nerve is to suddenly lose courage or confidence, especially at a critical moment when action is required.
Someone who loses their nerve backs down from something they intended to do: He was going to ask her out, but he lost his nerve at the last second.
The phrase implies the failure was psychological rather than practical—the person could have acted but fear stopped them.
- self-doubtUncertainty about oneself
- stage frightFear of performing publicly
- second-guessingReconsidering a decision made
- fearEmotional response to threat
- avoidanceDeliberate keeping away
anxiety · retreat · indecision · backing down · chicken out · wimp out · bottle it · bail out · back out · freezing up · faltering · panic · mental block · embarrassment · wavering · choking · overthinking · self-consciousness
lose one's nervehold one's nerve
Maintain calm under pressure
steel oneself · stand firm · hold fast · screw up one's courage · tough it out
lose one's nervekeep one's cool
Maintain emotional control
stay calm · keep one's head · hold it together · keep one's wits about one
lose, loser, losers, loses, losing, loss, losses, ones, oneness