# Whats the origin of the expression "cold feet"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 21, 2004, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-the-expression-cold-feet/235599 "2004-03-21T21:04:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Scarf-Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Scarf-Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarf-Ace)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-the-expression-cold-feet/235599/1 "2004-03-21T21:04:48Z")
You know, as in “Billy was about to [daring action] but got cold feet.”. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-the-expression-cold-feet/235599/2 "2004-03-21T22:07:05Z")
Common sense and personal experience tell me it’s a reference to intending to wade out into deeper water, only to stop and reconsider after taking a few steps because one’s feet feel like they’re encased in ice. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-the-expression-cold-feet/235599/3 "2004-03-21T22:37:57Z")
In short, no one really knows. I found this: “Cold feet” as a synonym for “timid” seems to date from the late 19th century, but its exact origin is uncertain. Experts have long suspected that the phrase might have something to do with the military, an environment which certainly offers a plethora of things to fear. It is entirely possible that “to get cold feet” originally referred to soldiers who exempted themselves from battle by complaining that their feet were frozen. A more intriguing possible origin, however, dates back to the 17th century, when “to have cold feet” meant “to have no money,” probably referring to someone being so poor as to lack shoes. The transition from the “no money” sense to the modern “timid” sense of “cold feet” may be found in an 1862 German novel in which a card player withdraws from a game claiming that he has “cold feet” (i.e., no money), when in fact he has merely lost his nerve. “To get cold feet,” goes the theory, then eventually came to mean backing out of any risky situation, whatever excuse was given. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-the-expression-cold-feet/235599/4 "2004-03-22T00:10:00Z")
**j66** You really should give Evan Morris a cite when you quote that much verbatim. [Word-Detective](http://www.word-detective.com/091801.html#coldfeet) ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-the-expression-cold-feet/235599/5 "2004-03-22T03:49:26Z")
You’re right, of course; I don’t know why I did that, when posting the link would have been easier. I may not have wanted to attribute the explanation because I found it wanting. I think that [this](http://www.takeourword.com/Issue077.html#Words%20to%20the%20Wise) one at ‘Take Our Word for It’ is better, although it leaves out the detail of the German novel. Interestingly, [this](http://www.anu.edu.au/ANDC/WWI/C.html) Australian site says that it is an American expression that was adopted by the Australian as ‘cold footer’. ---
**Author:** ![Scarf-Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Scarf-Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarf-Ace)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2004, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-the-expression-cold-feet/235599/6 "2004-03-22T12:08:00Z")
Interesting, I think the military explanation seems like the more likely but etymology can be a funny thing. Maybe I should ask the Master? ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2004, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-the-expression-cold-feet/235599/7 "2004-03-23T03:12:56Z")
I can beat that 1893 cite. I found an 1890 cite, and it was referring to a fellow in a card game backing out. Of course that could lend support to the theory that being broke might have been the original inspiration for the term. I might could trace if back farther except I get 50 hits for “cold feet” referring to medical problems for every 1 I get as a slang expression. Too frustrating. ---
**Author:** ![JulKat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecae2f/32.png) [@JulKat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JulKat)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2011, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-the-expression-cold-feet/235599/8 "2011-11-09T18:52:26Z")
Actually, the human body has a fear response that causes it to withdraw blood flow to the extremities during times of extreme stress and fear. That’s where the expression comes from. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2011, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-the-expression-cold-feet/235599/9 "2011-11-09T19:38:46Z")
> [@JulKat](#): > > Actually, the human body has a fear response that causes it to withdraw blood flow to the extremities during times of extreme stress and fear. That’s where the expression comes from. That’s what I was thinking, but I have nothing to back that up. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2011, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-the-expression-cold-feet/235599/10 "2011-11-09T19:43:49Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > That’s what I was thinking, but I have nothing to back that up. Indeed; without a citation, it’s just opinion (even if backed by common sense). Welcome to the SDMB, **JulKat**! FYI, this particular forum (General Questions) does lean towards cited facts, as noted in the FAQ thread: > [@](#): > > **7. Guesses, WAGs, and speculation.** We permit some educated guessing. Truly wild guesses aren’t especially helpful. We have some experts who post here. If you don’t have much information, give an expert a chance to answer by waiting until a question is about to fall off the first page before making a guess. If you post a factual claim, be prepared to back it up with a citation. If someone asks for a citation, don’t take it personally, we’re trying to get to the facts here, and that’s how it’s done. ---
**Author:** ![constanze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@constanze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/constanze)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2011, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-the-expression-cold-feet/235599/11 "2011-11-10T14:57:46Z")
> [@JulKat](#): > > Actually, the human body has a fear response that causes it to withdraw blood flow to the extremities during times of extreme stress and fear. That’s where the expression comes from. Mythbusters tested part of that: yes, when people are afraid their feet do get colder (quite measurably - several degrees!) because of the automatic fight-or-flight response. Whether that is the origin of the expression they didn’t discuss or couldn’t prove (because it didn’t involve spiders or parachute jumping to get fear reactions) :). ---
**Author:** ![janeslogin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2011, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-origin-of-the-expression-cold-feet/235599/12 "2011-11-11T22:53:28Z")
The rather well respected [Online Etymology Dictionary](http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=cold+feet&allowed_in_frame=0) gives “1893, Amer.Eng.; the presumed Italian original (avegh minga frecc i pee) is a Lombard proverb meaning “to have no money,” but some of the earliest English usages refer to gamblers, so a connection is possible.”