cold feet

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

cold′ feet′, [Informal.]

1. Informal Terms a loss or lack of courage or confidence;
   an onset of uncertainty or fear:
   She got cold feet when asked to sing a solo.

• 1890–95

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

cold feet noun:plural

1. loss or lack of courage or confidence