once bitten, twice shy
Meaning: After a bad experience, one is much more cautious.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “He lost money on crypto once and won't touch it now; once bitten, twice shy.”
Category: Animals
Origin: The idea is of a person, or an animal, that stays away from what hurt it once. The rhyming form is recorded from the mid-19th century.
Equivalents in other languages
- French: Chat échaudé craint l'eau froide — literally: A scalded cat fears cold water
More idioms — Animals
- give someone a leg up — To help someone make progress or get started.
- earn one's spurs — To prove one's ability and gain recognition.
- have the inside track — To have an advantage over others.
- a horn of plenty — An abundant source of something.
- hands down — Easily; without question.
- a little bird told me — I learned it from a secret source I won't name.
More English idioms
- I could eat a horse — I am extremely hungry.
- there's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip — Many things can go wrong before a plan succeeds.
- born with a silver spoon in one's mouth — Born into a wealthy, privileged family.
- penny wise and pound foolish — Careful with small amounts of money but wasteful with large ones.
- meet someone halfway — To make a compromise with someone.
- have a free hand — To have freedom to act as one sees fit.