Cold feet
English Idiom
Meaning: Feeling nervous or anxious about a significant decision or event, often leading to hesitation or withdrawal. It's a sense of doubt that can occur just before taking a big step.
Origin: The phrase 'cold feet' is believed to have originated in the late 19th century. One of the earliest known uses is found in a German novel, where it referred to a person backing out of a poker game due to nervousness. It later evolved into a general term for hesitation or doubt before a significant event.
Examples
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As the wedding day approached, Sarah began to get cold feet and questioned if she was making the right choice.
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Even seasoned actors can get cold feet before stepping onto the stage for a big performance.
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Tom had cold feet about accepting the job offer in a different country, fearing it might be too much of a change.
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She was excited about the trip, but on the day of departure, she got cold feet and almost canceled her flight.
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Despite months of planning, the entrepreneur got cold feet about launching the new product at the last minute.
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John had been looking forward to proposing for weeks, but when the moment came, he got cold feet.
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After signing up for the marathon, I got cold feet and wondered if I could actually complete the race.
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The candidate had cold feet about the final interview, doubting his qualifications for the position.
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As the deadline for submitting her novel approached, the writer got cold feet and considered postponing it.
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He had cold feet about moving to a new city, worried about leaving his friends and family behind.