once bitten, twice shy
used to say that if you have failed or been hurt once, you will be more careful next time

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

Once bitten, twice shy.
something that you say which means when you have had an unpleasant experience you are much more careful to avoid similar experiences in the future.
After he left her she refused to go out with anyone else for a long time - once bitten, twice shy, I suppose.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

once bitten, twice shy
if something goes wrong one time then you will be careful about doing the same thing again
Once bitten, twice shy and because the woman lost much money on the stock market she did not want to invest money there again.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

once bitten, twice shy
See: BURNT CHILD DREADS THE FIRE.
A person who has suffered from doing something has learned to avoid doing it again. - A proverb.
Once Mary had got lost when her mother took her downtown. But a burnt child dreads the fire, so now Mary stays close to her mother when they are downtown.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲