“Cold feet” refers to a moment of crisis or loss of courage before making a significant personal commitment or decision. It can be nerves or the subconscious mind’s way of backing out. The phrase’s origin is unclear, but it may have originated in Germany during the 1860s or in Stephen Crane’s 1894 work Maggie: A Child of the Streets.
There are many events in life that require a definite decision or commitment. A wedding ceremony, major real estate transaction, or life-changing medical procedure, for example, leaves very little room for hesitation or second thoughts beyond a certain point of no return. When a person experiences a moment of crisis or loss of courage just before taking a significant personal risk, he is often said to be suffering from a case of cold feet.
Getting cold feet could simply be a case of nerves before committing to a positive event, or it could be the subconscious mind’s way of backing out of the deal. Many people get nervous whenever the seriousness or ramifications of an upcoming decision or commitment are fully realized. The idea of abandoning a bachelor’s lifestyle entirely, for example, can cause a groom to hesitate about her impending wedding. The same goes for a bride who has last-minute reservations about making a lifetime commitment. This anxiety has led some brides or grooms to run away from the ceremony or call off the wedding entirely.
Other people may experience this reaction when negotiating a major real estate purchase or other financial transaction. The original plan to buy a new home may have made perfect sense at the time, but unforeseen delays or costly repairs can leave a prospective buyer with cold feet and backing out of the deal before closing. The idea of acquiring a “money pit” or taking on a barely affordable mortgage can make many buyers hesitate before signing onto the dotted line.
The history of the phrase having cold feet is a bit convoluted. Many sources say it first appeared in Stephen Crane’s 1894 work Maggie: A Child of the Streets. A character shows his admiration for a man who does not suffer from doubts whenever a difficult decision has to be made. Others say the phrase was popular in Germany during the 1860s, describing gamblers and others whose livelihoods depended on being extremely confident in their decisions.
Some sources even suggest that the description as a metaphor for lost courage can be traced back to the writings of Ben Jonson, a contemporary of William Shakespeare. This particular reference seems to be more related to a sense of poverty, however, not a sudden loss of fortitude or courage. However, literally having cold feet from lack of proper footwear might make a person more cautious or hesitant, so both concepts have contributed to the popularity of the phrase.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
