Once bitten, twice shy

Definitions

• learn from past experiences
  To be cautious or hesitant in a situation because of a previous negative experience or lesson learned.

• warn against repeating mistakes
  To advise against making the same mistake twice, based on a previous negative experience or lesson learned.

Examples of Once bitten, twice shy

• Emily was excited to start her new job at a local restaurant, but she was hesitant to accept tips from customers. After her first shift, a customer left her a bad review online and didn't tip her despite her excellent service. From then on, Emily became more cautious and started refusing tips from customers she didn't think would be generous.

  Emily's first experience as a server left her feeling discouraged and unsure about accepting tips. She learned that not all customers would be appreciative of her hard work, and as a result, she became more hesitant to rely on tips for her income.

• Roland had been an investor for many years, but he never got too attached to any one stock. He learned early on that the stock market could be unpredictable and volatile, and he didn't want to lose a lot of money in one fell swoop. As a result, he diversified his portfolio and never invested too much in any one company.

  Roland's experience with the stock market taught him to be cautious and not let his emotions cloud his judgment. He recognized that investing could be risky, and he didn't want to put all his eggs in one basket.

• After months of trying to conceive, Rachel finally got pregnant. However, she was nervous about going through another pregnancy and delivery, after experiencing painful contractions and a difficult delivery with her first child. She began researching alternative birthing methods and hired a doula to help her through the process.

  Rachel's previous childbirth experience had left her feeling scared and vulnerable. She was hesitant to go through the same pain and discomfort, and she decided to take a more proactive stance this time around. She recognized that she could benefit from new approaches and supportive caregivers.

• Kate was a talented writer, but she struggled with sharing her work with others. After submitting a short story to a literary magazine and receiving a harsh rejection letter, Kate became more hesitant to share her work. She began revising her story multiple times and seeking feedback from trusted critique partners.

  Kate's experience with the literary magazine left her feeling discouraged and unsure about sharing her work with others. She learned that not all criticism would be helpful or constructive, and she recognized the need to be more selective about who she shared her work with. She took steps to strengthen her writing and build a more supportive community of writers.

• Emma had always been an optimist, but after her last boyfriend cheated on her, she became wary of getting involved in a new relationship. She didn't want to be "once bitten, twice shy" and suffer through the pain of heartbreak again.

  The phrase "once bitten, twice shy" is used to describe someone who has experienced a negative situation once and, as a result, is hesitant or cautious in a similar situation in the future. This idiom emphasizes that because Emma was hurt by her previous boyfriend's infidelity, she is now more cautious in her approach to romantic relationships to prevent future pain.

• Emma had always been cautious with her money, but after being scammed out of a large sum by a so-called investment firm, she became much more skeptical of similar offers. From then on, Emma was once bitten, twice shy and did extensive research before putting her hard-earned cash into any new investment opportunities.

  The idiom once bitten, twice shy means someone learns from a negative experience and becomes more cautious or wary as a result. In this example, Emma had been scammed once and learned to be more careful and skeptical of similar offers in the future.

• After a painful breakup with her boyfriend, Sarah was hesitant to trust any man again. She had been once bitten, twice shy and found herself questioning each new guy's true intentions. She was afraid of getting hurt again and was taking her time before committing to a new relationship.

  In this example, Sarah's negative experience with her ex-boyfriend had made her more guarded and cautious about entering into new romantic relationships. She had learned the hard way and was less likely to jump into something too quickly.

• John had never been a fan of roller coasters, but after a particularly harrowing experience on one that left him feeling dizzy and sick to his stomach, he swore he would never ride one again. John had been once bitten, twice shy and decided that he was better off avoiding roller coasters altogether.

  This example shows how a negative experience can lead to a strong aversion or preference. After his traumatic ride, John was once bitten, twice shy and decided to steer clear of roller coasters in the future.

Conclusion

The idiom "once bitten, twice shy" is used to convey the idea of learning from past experiences and being cautious or hesitant in a situation because of a previous negative experience. It can also be interpreted as a warning against repeating mistakes based on a lesson learned. Overall, the intention behind this idiom is to encourage individuals to be more careful and wise in their actions, especially when they have been hurt or disappointed in the past.

Origin of "Once bitten, twice shy"

The origin of this idiom can be traced back to an old English proverb, "A scalded cat fears cold water," which has a similar meaning. The first recorded use of the phrase "once bitten, twice shy" was in the 19th century, in a poem titled "Solomon Kane" by Robert E. Howard. However, it is believed that the phrase was already in use in spoken language before it was recorded in writing.

The idiom is based on the idea that when a person experiences something negative, such as being bitten by a dog, they will be more cautious and hesitant in similar situations in the future. This can also be applied to emotional experiences, where a person may be hesitant to trust or open up again after being hurt in a relationship or friendship. The phrase "once bitten, twice shy" has become a commonly used expression in everyday language, emphasizing the importance of learning from past experiences and being cautious in the future.