once hurt, twice shy
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Alternative form of once bitten, twice shy.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “once hurt, twice shy” mean?
Alternative form of once bitten, twice shy.
Is “once hurt, twice shy” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.