Poor Handwriting Stopped Two Bank Robberies
get cold feet: to suddenly feel afraid or unsure about doing something you planned to do
Cursive handwriting is a dying art. With some schools no longer teaching it, many young people can no longer read or write it. But even some older people struggle with it. In 2021, Alan Slattery, a 67-year-old retired man, walked into a bank in England with a handwritten robbery note. But there was a problem—his handwriting was so bad that the bank teller could not read it. Confused, the worker did nothing, and Slattery left without any money. Later, the bank staff managed to understand the note and called the police. Slattery was caught and sentenced to six years in prison.
Poor handwriting is not just a problem in England. In Colorado, another older man tried to rob a bank in December 2024. He also passed a note to the teller that was so messy that she could not read it. The confused teller took too long to react, and the man got cold feet and ran away. Police are still searching for him, but his illegible handwriting saved the bank a lot of money.
Sample sentences
Mia planned to sing at the school concert, but just before stepping on stage, she got cold feet.
After months of planning the wedding, Jake got cold feet the night before and canceled it.
Lisa was ready to move to another country, but when it was time to say goodbye, she got cold feet and decided to stay home.
Origin
The phrase comes from the idea that when people are very scared, their body reacts, and their feet feel cold. It has been used in English since the 19th century to describe someone who loses confidence and decides not to do something at the last moment.
Read More:
Man’s handwriting was so bad Eastbourne bank staff didn’t know he was trying to rob them
Bank Robbery Attempt Falls Through Over Unreadable Handwritten Note In US