once bitten, twice shy
idiom
—used to mean that a person who has failed or been hurt when trying to do something is careful or fearful about doing it again
Cite this Entry
“Once bitten, twice shy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/once%20bitten%2C%20twice%20shy. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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