get cold feet

Use this phrase as a verb. You can say you got cold feet or you are getting cold feet. It usually happens right before a deadline or a major life event. You can use it for yourself or describe someone else. If your friend cancels a bungee jump at the last second, they got cold feet. It sounds natural in both speech and casual writing.

Use it for big, life-changing moments. It is very common when talking about weddings or marriage. You can also use it for career moves. Maybe you accepted a job in a new city. Now you are packing boxes and feeling terrified. That is cold feet. It works for skydiving, public speaking, or even asking someone on a date. Use it when the stakes feel high.

Do not use it for small, everyday things. You do not get cold feet about choosing a sandwich flavor. It is also not for general sadness or anger. It specifically refers to fear-based hesitation. If you are just lazy and don't want to go out, that is not cold feet. Avoid using it in very formal legal documents. It is a bit too descriptive for a court of law.

This phrase has been around for a long time. Some say it comes from 19th-century literature. Others think it relates to soldiers in battle. If your feet are literally cold or frozen, you cannot march forward. In modern pop culture, it is a classic movie trope. Think of a bride or groom running out of a church. It represents the universal human fear of making a permanent choice.

Most people just say get cold feet. However, you might hear someone say they have a case of cold feet. This makes it sound like a temporary sickness. You can also say someone is starting to get cold feet. This means the doubt is growing slowly. If someone overcomes the fear, you can say they warmed up to the idea. But usually, the 'cold' part is what people focus on.