Loss of nerve

Wikipedia Word definitions in Wikipedia
The fifth series of the British comedy drama television series Cold Feet was broadcast on the ITV network from 23 February to 16 March 2003. This was the final series of the drama and while the number of episodes was halved compared to the previous series, ...

WordNet Word definitions in WordNet
n. timidity that prevents the continuation of a course of action; "I was going to tell him but I got cold feet"

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary Word definitions in Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
1893, American English; 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.