cold feet

plural noun

: apprehension or doubt strong enough to prevent a planned course of action

Examples of cold feet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Analysts noted the downgrade and wondered if Trump was getting cold feet about getting into a trade war. Tobias Burns, The Hill, 23 Jan. 2025 The bottom line: The last thing the crypto lobby needs is for Democrats like her to get cold feet. Brady Dale, Axios, 21 Jan. 2025 But Sosa got cold feet and canceled the interview at the last minute, and a reunion seemed impossible without an admission of guilt. Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 18 Jan. 2025 Taxpayers who got cold feet because of all the noise may want to reconsider. Tom Cullinan, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for cold feet 

Word History

First Known Use

1893, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cold feet was in 1893

Dictionary Entries Near cold feet

Cite this Entry

“Cold feet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cold%20feet. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.

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