Idiom
Once bitten, twice shy
Once bitten, twice shy means that after a bad experience, people become extra careful to avoid the same thing happening again.
How people use it
People say it to explain caution that comes from past hurt, such as being wary of a new business deal after losing money on an old one. It often works as a comment about yourself (I trusted a cheap moving company once; once bitten, twice shy). It can also describe someone else's hesitation in a sympathetic way. Twice shy means twice as cautious from then on, not shy only on the second try. It is a neutral proverb that fits most situations.
Also said: once burned, twice shy.
Examples
- After her cheap laptop broke a week past the warranty, Priya is once bitten, twice shy about bargain electronics.
- Ben lent his cousin money before and never got it back, so now he is once bitten, twice shy.
- The town was once bitten, twice shy about building near the river after the last flood.
Where it comes from
The proverb rests on a simple picture: an animal or a child bitten once by a dog will keep its distance afterward. Older English proverbs made the same point, such as 'a burnt child dreads the fire.' The 'once bitten, twice shy' wording appears in British writing by the mid-1800s. Americans often say 'once burned, twice shy' instead.
Check yourself
1. What does once bitten, twice shy suggest about someone?
Answer: A past bad experience has made them cautious. The proverb is about caution learned from one bad experience, not about actual bites or shyness.
2. Which situation fits the proverb best?
Answer: After a bad haircut at a new salon, Omar now only goes to his usual barber.. Omar's caution comes from one bad experience, which is exactly what the proverb describes.
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