A scalded cat fears cold water.

Meaning: Past trauma causes excessive caution even toward harmless situations resembling the original threat.

Origin: From 'A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases' (1870). Public domain.

Translations

• French: Chat échaudé craint l’eau froide (literally: A scalded cat dreads cold water)
• Spanish: Gato escaldado del agua fria ha miedo (literally: The scalded cat dreads cold water)

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