出冷汗

出冷汗

Literally means:

be in cold sweat

Actually means:

be ill or frightened

冷汗 refers to the sweat shed because of being ill or scared.

When sweating in this way, people usually feel a chill in their hands and feet. Hence the formation of this phrase, which means that a person is ill or very frightened. Sometimes it has a sense of exaggeration.

由于生病或者受到惊吓等原因而出的汗，出汗时往往手脚发冷，所以叫“冷汗”。

比喻人生病或者受到了很大的惊吓。有时有夸张的意味。