Signification
To lose nerve or courage.
Contexte culturel
In Sweden, 'kalla fötter' is often used in the context of 'bostadsmarknaden' (the housing market). Because buying an apartment involves a fast-paced bidding war, many buyers 'får kalla fötter' when they realize how much debt they are taking on. The phrase is heavily associated with 'Runaway Bride' tropes in Hollywood movies, which has influenced how Swedes perceive the phrase in romantic contexts. In international business, 'cold feet' is a recognized term for a party wanting to renegotiate or exit a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). In Finnish-Swedish (finlandssvenska), the phrase is used identically, though Finnish itself uses different metaphors involving 'shaking knees'.
Use with 'inför'
When saying what you are nervous about, use the preposition 'inför' (e.g., kalla fötter inför provet).
Don't say 'bli'
Never say 'Jag blev kalla fötter'. It sounds like you physically transformed into feet.
Signification
To lose nerve or courage.
Use with 'inför'
When saying what you are nervous about, use the preposition 'inför' (e.g., kalla fötter inför provet).
Don't say 'bli'
Never say 'Jag blev kalla fötter'. It sounds like you physically transformed into feet.
Business use
It's perfectly acceptable in Swedish business meetings to describe a client's hesitation.
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'få'.
Han ___ kalla fötter igår och ringde inte.
The word 'igår' (yesterday) requires the past tense 'fick'.
Which situation best fits the idiom?
When would you say someone has 'kalla fötter'?
The idiom refers to psychological nerves, not physical temperature.
Match the Swedish phrase to its English meaning.
Match the following:
These are all related to courage and fear.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Ska du hoppa? B: Nej, jag har ___.
This is the most natural way to express last-minute doubt.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Common Situations
Life Events
- • Wedding
- • Moving
- • New Job
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesHan ___ kalla fötter igår och ringde inte.
The word 'igår' (yesterday) requires the past tense 'fick'.
When would you say someone has 'kalla fötter'?
The idiom refers to psychological nerves, not physical temperature.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
These are all related to courage and fear.
A: Ska du hoppa? B: Nej, jag har ___.
This is the most natural way to express last-minute doubt.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, it's neutral. It's a common way to describe a very human feeling.
Usually, it's for bigger things, but you can use it jokingly for small things like trying a new food.
Fick kalla fötter.
Not exactly, but 'tveka' (to hesitate) is close.
Not necessarily. It just means you are having a moment of doubt.
No, that's not an idiom in Swedish.
Yes, very often in politics and finance.
Yes, 'Jag fick kalla fötter' is very common.
Similar, but stage fright is specifically 'rampfeber'.
Yes, it's a timeless idiom.
Expressions liées
Fega ur
synonymTo chicken out
Dra sig ur
similarTo pull out
Ha is i magen
contrastTo have ice in the stomach
Rampfeber
specialized formStage fright
