once bitten, twice shy

Register · Neutral Neutral — appropriate in most situations, both spoken and written, without sounding too casual or too stiff. CEFR B2

Post

Example

“He won't invest again — once bitten, twice shy.”

Dictionary details

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

curiosity killed the cat Neutral · CEFR B2

asking too many questions can lead to trouble

look before you leap Neutral · CEFR B2

to consider the risks before acting

the proof of the pudding is in the eating Formal · CEFR C1

You can only judge something's value by trying or experiencing it.

better late than never Neutral · CEFR A2

Doing something after a delay is better than not doing it at all.

actions speak louder than words Neutral · CEFR B1

What you do matters more than what you say.

don't judge a book by its cover Neutral · CEFR B1

appearances can be misleading, so assess things properly

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

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