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
Barlow['ba:ləu]
Doru-Romanian
Sabri-Arabic
Aalis-Medieval French
ReinerRIE-ner (German)German, Ancient Germanic
Koldobika-Basque