语言小点心:Get Cold Feet

1. If you get cold feet, this means¹ that:
a) you feel very brave about doing something

b) you feel too cold to do something

c) you feel too nervous to do something

2) This expression might have started with:
a) soldiers

b) sailors

Today on Language Snacks we take a look at the expression get cold feet. Let’s listen to the dialogue.

A: Are you ready for the big show tonight? Have you been practising your singing?

B: I'm really nervous! I have to sing all on my own in front of hundreds of people! I don't think I can do it.

A: You have to do it! You've prepared really hard. You can't get cold feet now!

B: No, you're right! I must try to be more confident.

When people have to do something very important, they sometimes become very nervous. If you feel really nervous, you might even think about not doing that important thing at all. In those situations, we say that you get cold feet. Some people feel nervous and unsure like this when they are considering changing their job or moving house. Sometimes, people even get cold feet on their wedding day!

The expression might originate² from the army, when soldiers would use their frozen³ feet as a reason not to go into battle.

And that’s it for now – join us again for some more Language Snacks.

答案:c b

 

 

1 means   

n.方法，手段，折中点，物质财富

参考例句：

• That man used artful means to find out secrets.那人使用狡猾的手段获取机密。
• We must get it done by some means or other.我们总得想办法把它干完。

2 originate   

vi.起源于，来自；vt.创造，创始，开创

参考例句：

• All carbohydrates originate from plants.所有的碳水化合物均来自植物。
• All theories originate from practice and in turn serve practice.任何理论都来源于实践，反过来为实践服务。

3 frozen   

adj.冻结的，冰冻的

参考例句：

• He was frozen to death on a snowing night.在一个风雪的晚上，他被冻死了。
• The weather is cold and the ground is frozen.天寒地冻。