cold feet, get



cold feet, get

Also, have cold feet. Retreat from an undertaking; lose one's nerve. For example, I got cold feet when I learned the trip involves white-water rafting, or Don't count on including her-she's been known to have cold feet in the past. The origin of this term has been lost. In early 17th-century Italy it meant to be short of money, but that sense has never been used in English. [Late 1800s]
See also: cold, get

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
SmithSMITHEnglish
Eustaquioe-oo-STAH-kyo (Spanish)Spanish, Portuguese
RadboudRAHT-bowtDutch
WacŁAwavahts-WAH-vahPolish
KirstenKEER-sten (Danish, Norwegian), KUR-stən (English)Danish, Norwegian, English
FrejaFRIE-ah (Danish, German), FRAY-ah (Swedish)Danish, Swedish, German