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{{short description|Apprehension or doubt strong enough to prevent a planned course of action}} |
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{{Other uses}} |
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'''Cold feet''' is a phrase that refers to a person not going through with an action, particularly one which requires long term commitment, due to fear, uncertainty, and doubt. A person is said to be "getting cold feet" when, after previously committing to a plan, they ultimately do not carry out the planned course of action. |
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==Definitions (psychological)== |
==Definitions (psychological)== |
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* Timidity that prevents the continuation of a course of action.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cold feet|url=http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=cold+feet&sub=Search+WordNet&o2=&o0=1&o8=1&o1=1&o7=&o5=&o9=&o6=&o3=&o4=&h=|accessdate=22 December 2012}}</ref> |
* Timidity that prevents the continuation of a course of action.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cold feet|url=http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=cold+feet&sub=Search+WordNet&o2=&o0=1&o8=1&o1=1&o7=&o5=&o9=&o6=&o3=&o4=&h=|accessdate=22 December 2012}}</ref> |
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== Etymology == |
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The origin of the term itself has been largely attributed to American author [[Stephen Crane]], who added the phrase, in 1896, to the second edition of his short novel, ''[[Maggie: A Girl of the Streets]]''.<ref>{{cite book|last=Barnhart|first=David K.|title=America in So Many Words: Words That Have Shaped America|url= |
The origin of the term itself has been largely attributed to American author [[Stephen Crane]], who added the phrase, in 1896, to the second edition of his short novel, ''[[Maggie: A Girl of the Streets]]''.<ref>{{cite book|last=Barnhart|first=David K.|title=America in So Many Words: Words That Have Shaped America|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SYrJZLjgDmIC&pg=PA191&dq=%22cold+feet%22+%22stephen+crane%22#q=%22cold%20feet%22%20%22stephen%20crane%22|year=1997|publisher=Houghton Mifflin|location=Boston|page=191|isbn=0547563299}}</ref><ref name="slate" /> Crane writes, "I knew this was the way it would be. They got cold feet." The term is present in "Seed Time and Harvest" by [[Fritz Reuter]] published in 1862.<ref name="slate">{{cite web|last=Engber|first=Daniel|title=When Did We Get "Cold Feet"? The Germans had 'em first!|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2005/05/when_did_we_get_cold_feet.html|accessdate=24 December 2012}}</ref><ref name="zoulas">{{cite web|last=Zoulas|first=Peter|title=Take Our Word For It, Issue 77|url=http://www.takeourword.com/Issue077.html|accessdate=24 December 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Reuter|first=Fritz|title=Seed-time and Harvest|url=http://digital.library.cornell.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=livn;cc=livn;rgn=full%20text;idno=livn0108-12;didno=livn0108-12;view=image;seq=737;node=livn0108-12%3A1;page=root;size=100|accessdate=24 December 2012}}</ref> Kenneth McKenzie, a former professor of Italian at [[Princeton University]] attributed the first use of the phrase to the play ''[[Volpone]]'' produced by [[Ben Jonson]] in 1605.<ref name="slate" /><ref name="zoulas" /> The true origin and first usage of the phrase remains debated and unconfirmed as exemplified above. |
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at [[Princeton University]] attributed the first use of the phrase to the play [[Volpone]] produced by [[Ben Jonson]] in 1605.<ref name="slate" /><ref name="zoulas" /> The true origin and first usage of the phrase remains debated and unconfirmed as exemplified above. |
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==Common |
==Common uses== |
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===Marriage=== |
===Marriage=== |
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A common use of the phrase is when people fear the [[contract|commitment]] of [[marriage]] and get "cold feet" before a [[wedding]] ceremony.<ref>{{citation |url= |
A common use of the phrase is when people fear the [[contract|commitment]] of [[marriage]] and get "cold feet" before a [[wedding]] ceremony.<ref>{{citation |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DtQMUlmS2NAC&pg=PA7 |title=There's More Than One Color in the Pew |author=Tony Mathews |year=2003|isbn=9781573124157 }}</ref><ref name="psytoday">{{cite web|last=Hutson|first=Matthew|title=Brides and Grooms: Cold Feet|url=http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200702/brides-and-grooms-cold-feet|accessdate=24 December 2012}}</ref> This premarital doubt or fear may manifest for a variety of reasons and sometimes cause the bride or groom to back out of a planned marriage.<ref name="psytoday" /><ref name="predivorce">{{cite web|title=Bride's "Cold feet" May Predict Divorce|url=http://www.livescience.com/23196-woman-s-doubts-before-wedding-may-predict-divorce.html|accessdate=24 December 2012}}</ref> Original research on the "cold feet" phenomenon is very limited, but a four-year study conducted by UCLA researchers found feelings of premarital doubt or uncertainty about an impending marriage were associated with future marital problems and a viable predictor of divorce.<ref name="predivorce" /><ref>{{cite journal|last=Lavner|first=Justin|author2=Benjamin Karney |author3=Thomas Bradbury |title=Do Cold Feet Warn of Trouble Ahead? Premarital Uncertainty and Four-Year Marital Outcomes|journal=Journal of Family Psychology|year=2012|volume=26|issue=6|pages=1012–1017|doi=10.1037/a0029912|pmc=3525794|pmid=22946462}}</ref> |
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== References == |
== References == |
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{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist|colwidth=25em}} |
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== External links == |
== External links == |
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{{wiktionary|cold feet}} |
{{wiktionary|cold feet}} |
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*[http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/07-13-2005/0004066566&EDATE= "Expert Advice on Cold Feet"] – Article from Brides Magazine |
*[http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/07-13-2005/0004066566&EDATE= "Expert Advice on Cold Feet"] – Article from Brides Magazine |
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* [ |
* [https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Health/story?id=718862&page=1 "Cold Feet Common in Brides-to-Be"] [[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] [[Good Morning America]], May 1, 2005 |
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[[Category:Human behavior]] |
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[[Category:Metaphors referring to body parts]] |
[[Category:Metaphors referring to body parts]] |
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{{psychology-stub}} |
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Latest revision as of 09:07, 28 October 2024
Cold feet is a phrase that refers to a person not going through with an action, particularly one which requires long term commitment, due to fear, uncertainty, and doubt. A person is said to be "getting cold feet" when, after previously committing to a plan, they ultimately do not carry out the planned course of action.
Definitions (psychological)
[edit]- Apprehension or doubt strong enough to prevent a planned course of action.[1]
- A loss or lack of courage or confidence; an onset of uncertainty or fear.[2]
- To “have cold feet” is to be too fearful to undertake or complete an action.[3]
- A wave of timidity or fearfulness.[4]
- Loss or lack of courage or confidence.[5]
- Timidity that prevents the continuation of a course of action.[6]
Etymology
[edit]The origin of the term itself has been largely attributed to American author Stephen Crane, who added the phrase, in 1896, to the second edition of his short novel, Maggie: A Girl of the Streets.[7][8] Crane writes, "I knew this was the way it would be. They got cold feet." The term is present in "Seed Time and Harvest" by Fritz Reuter published in 1862.[8][9][10] Kenneth McKenzie, a former professor of Italian at Princeton University attributed the first use of the phrase to the play Volpone produced by Ben Jonson in 1605.[8][9] The true origin and first usage of the phrase remains debated and unconfirmed as exemplified above.
Common uses
[edit]Marriage
[edit]A common use of the phrase is when people fear the commitment of marriage and get "cold feet" before a wedding ceremony.[11][12] This premarital doubt or fear may manifest for a variety of reasons and sometimes cause the bride or groom to back out of a planned marriage.[12][13] Original research on the "cold feet" phenomenon is very limited, but a four-year study conducted by UCLA researchers found feelings of premarital doubt or uncertainty about an impending marriage were associated with future marital problems and a viable predictor of divorce.[13][14]
References
[edit]- ^ "Cold feet - Definition". Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
- ^ "Cold feet". Dictionary.com. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
- ^ "Cold feet definition". The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
- ^ Spears, Richard. "cold feet". Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions. McGraw Hill. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
- ^ "Cold feet". Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition. William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd.
- ^ "Cold feet". Retrieved 22 December 2012.
- ^ Barnhart, David K. (1997). America in So Many Words: Words That Have Shaped America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. p. 191. ISBN 0547563299.
- ^ a b c Engber, Daniel. "When Did We Get "Cold Feet"? The Germans had 'em first!". Retrieved 24 December 2012.
- ^ a b Zoulas, Peter. "Take Our Word For It, Issue 77". Retrieved 24 December 2012.
- ^ Reuter, Fritz. "Seed-time and Harvest". Retrieved 24 December 2012.
- ^ Tony Mathews (2003), There's More Than One Color in the Pew, ISBN 9781573124157
- ^ a b Hutson, Matthew. "Brides and Grooms: Cold Feet". Retrieved 24 December 2012.
- ^ a b "Bride's "Cold feet" May Predict Divorce". Retrieved 24 December 2012.
- ^ Lavner, Justin; Benjamin Karney; Thomas Bradbury (2012). "Do Cold Feet Warn of Trouble Ahead? Premarital Uncertainty and Four-Year Marital Outcomes". Journal of Family Psychology. 26 (6): 1012–1017. doi:10.1037/a0029912. PMC 3525794. PMID 22946462.
External links
[edit]
Look up cold feet in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
- "Expert Advice on Cold Feet" – Article from Brides Magazine
- "Cold Feet Common in Brides-to-Be" ABC News Good Morning America, May 1, 2005