Meaning
To become nervous or hesitant about doing something, often at the last minute.
Cultural Background
In Germany, 'kalte Füße' is often discussed in the context of 'Torschlusspanik' (the fear that time is running out), though they are different. One is about starting, the other is about finishing. Austrians might use 'kriegen' more often than 'bekommen' in this idiom, reflecting the slightly more informal Austrian German dialect in daily life. In Swiss German, the pronunciation changes significantly, but the metaphor remains a staple of the language, especially in political debates. In German business meetings, saying a partner 'bekommt kalte Füße' is a serious warning that a deal might fail. It's a polite way to say they are unreliable.
Use it for Jitters
This is the perfect phrase for 'pre-wedding jitters' or 'pre-exam nerves.'
Don't say 'machen'
Remember: you *receive* (bekommen) the cold feet, you don't *make* (machen) them.
Meaning
To become nervous or hesitant about doing something, often at the last minute.
Use it for Jitters
This is the perfect phrase for 'pre-wedding jitters' or 'pre-exam nerves.'
Don't say 'machen'
Remember: you *receive* (bekommen) the cold feet, you don't *make* (machen) them.
Kriegen vs Bekommen
Use 'kriegen' with friends to sound more like a native, but stick to 'bekommen' in writing.
Social Acceptance
It's a very 'safe' idiom. You can use it with your boss or your grandma without being rude.
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct form of 'bekommen'.
Gestern wollte ich Bungee-Springen, aber ich ______ kalte Füße.
The sentence starts with 'Gestern' (yesterday), so we need the past tense (Präteritum).
Which sentence is correct?
A) Er hat kalte Füße bekommen. B) Er hat kalte Füße gemacht. C) Er ist kalte Füße bekommen.
The idiom uses 'bekommen' and the auxiliary verb 'haben' in the perfect tense.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Kommst du mit zum Fallschirmspringen? B: Nein, ich habe im letzten Moment ______ ______ ______.
The idiom is specifically 'kalte Füße'.
In which situation would you say this?
Someone is standing at the altar and suddenly wants to run away.
This is the classic situation for this idiom.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesGestern wollte ich Bungee-Springen, aber ich ______ kalte Füße.
The sentence starts with 'Gestern' (yesterday), so we need the past tense (Präteritum).
A) Er hat kalte Füße bekommen. B) Er hat kalte Füße gemacht. C) Er ist kalte Füße bekommen.
The idiom uses 'bekommen' and the auxiliary verb 'haben' in the perfect tense.
A: Kommst du mit zum Fallschirmspringen? B: Nein, ich habe im letzten Moment ______ ______ ______.
The idiom is specifically 'kalte Füße'.
Someone is standing at the altar and suddenly wants to run away.
This is the classic situation for this idiom.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questionsYes, but it's not an idiom then. 'Ich habe kalte Füße' just means your feet are cold.
It's 'kalte Füße bekommen' (accusative plural). If you say 'mit kalten Füßen', it's dative.
Yes, very. It describes investors or partners pulling out of deals.
There isn't a direct 'warm feet' idiom, but you could say 'Feuer und Flamme sein' (to be fire and flame/very excited).
Usually, it's for bigger decisions. Getting 'cold feet' about which pizza to order sounds a bit dramatic, but can be used jokingly.
Related Phrases
Einen Rückzieher machen
synonymTo back out of a commitment.
Kneifen
similarTo chicken out.
Lampenfieber haben
similarTo have stage fright.
Den Mut verlieren
builds onTo lose courage.
Torschlusspanik
contrastFear of missing out as one gets older.
