I was going to ask my boss for a raise but I got cold feet.

　　我打算要求老板给我加薪，但我退缩了。

　　got cold feet直译过来就是：“双脚变冷”，这个短语的正确意思是：“失去勇气，临阵退缩”。因此，当美国人说"I was going to ask my boss for a raise but I got cold feet."时，他/她要表达的意思就是:"I wanted a pay rise from my boss but I dared not to."、"I gave up asking my boss a salary raise."。

　　情景对白：

　　Shirley: Honey, you have devoted yourself to your work and have done a good job. Why not ask for a raise?

　　雪莉：亲爱的，你全身心投入到工作中，干得很出色，为什么不要求加薪呢？

　　Benjamin: I was going to ask my boss for a raise but I got cold feet.

　　本杰明：我本打算要求老板给我加薪，但我退缩了。

　　搭配句积累：

　　①Come on! Your boss is not an unreasonable person.

　　加油！你们老板不是那种不讲道理的人。

　　②It's not a shame! Just do it!

　　这又不是什么可耻的事情。尽管去吧。

　　③Then I suggest you send him an email for a raise.

　　那我建议你发封邮件要求加薪。

　　④You work so hard, and you deserve higher pay.

　　你工作如此卖力，你应该得到更高的薪水。

　　单词：

　　1. devote vt. 奉献

　　Only the person of the real understanding other people's pain and sufferings, then can devote to do a fine matter for the other people.

　　只有真正了解别人痛苦的人，才能尽心为别人做美好的事。

　　After graduation he started to devote himself to science research.

　　他毕业后开始致力于科学研究。

　　You devote all your life to the fulfillment of your dream.

　　你付出你的一生来完成你的梦想。

　　2. unreasonable adj. 不讲道理的

　　The strikers were being unreasonable in their demands, having rejected the deal two weeks ago.

　　罢工者的要求很不合理，他们在两周前已拒绝接受这份协议。

　　It's unreasonable to expect your child to behave in a caring way if you behave selfishly.

　　如果你自己表现得很自私却期待你的孩子能关心别人，这是很没道理的。

　　One in four consumers now say water prices are very unreasonable.

　　1/4的消费者认为现在的水费很不合理。