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 Someone, maybe everyone, including Davis, had gotten cold feet. Alex Bhattacharji, Rolling Stone, 4 Aug. 2024 There were cooks who prepared Thanksgiving meals for people whose families didn't visit; a maintenance man who bought slippers for a woman with cold feet; housekeepers who told jokes to residents in the hallway. Cleo Krejci, Journal Sentinel, 25 July 2024 And a bride with cold feet is now a groom trying not to jilt his husband-to-be at the altar. Jordan Riefe, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 July 2024 The most obvious sign is a stiff body and cold feet. Simmone Shah, TIME, 9 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for cold feet 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cold feet.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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 18 Aug. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on cold feet

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