once bitten, twice shy

== English == === Alternative forms === once burned, twice cautious once burned, twice shy once hurt, twice shy === Pronunciation === === Proverb === once bitten, twice shy One is cautious if one has been hurt in the past. ==== Synonyms ==== a burnt child dreads the fire, the burnt child dreads the fire a beaten dog may cower before a friendly hand ==== Related terms ==== gunshy ==== Translations ==== === References === Gregory Y. Titelman, Random House Dictionary of Popular Proverbs and Sayings, 1996, →ISBN, p. 261.