once bitten, twice shy

idiom

Meaning

You're more cautious when you've been hurt before

Origin

disputed origin

Short for the 19th-century proverb 'once bitten, twice shy': someone bitten once is wary ever after.

Examples

SIMPLE

I won't lend him money again; once bitten, twice shy.

CONTEXTUAL

After his first business failed, he was very careful with his next investment because he felt once bitten, twice shy.

COMPLEX

The diplomat approached the new treaty with extreme caution, embodying the philosophy of once bitten, twice shy after the previous agreement collapsed so spectacularly.

Last updated June 7, 2026