The idiom “once bitten twice shy” means that someone who has been hurt in the past will be cautious in similar situations. This can apply to romantic relationships or work situations. It is a natural instinct for self-preservation.
“Once bitten twice shy” is an idiom that comes from an old English proverb. The general intent of the saying is to convey the concept that once an individual has been hurt in some way, he is likely to be very wary of any situation that contains elements of that previous bad experience. A similar saying, “once burned twice shy,” conveys the same general sentiment, noting the caution people will use when faced with a similar situation.
The images associated with the term usually evoke a scene where someone sustains a dog bite or a snake bite. Both types of bites can be extremely painful and leave emotional as well as physical scars. As a result, the injured party may be extremely cautious when in the vicinity of a dog or snake in the future, being careful not to do anything that could result in another bite.
In general usage, “once bitten twice shy” can be applied to a number of scenarios. When referring to a romantic situation, someone who has been deeply hurt in a previous relationship may be very reluctant to enter a new one. This is especially true if the new person of interest displays certain qualities or habits that remind the injured party of that previously failed relationship. As a result, opportunities to start a relationship with someone new can be few and far between, until that old wound has healed enough that it no longer affects perceptions of potential new partners.
At work, employees may be alert when interacting with a colleague who has caused difficulties in the past. Due to past history, it may be considered wise to refrain from discussing certain issues or sharing information that is not directly relevant to carrying out some assigned duties. Only once the colleague has demonstrated his or her ability not to repeat actions that have caused problems in the past will others begin to let their guard down and become more accepting of that individual.
Typically, those who are “bitten once twice shy” feel the need to move forward with great caution, at least until all the fears surrounding that movement are addressed and resolved. A natural predilection of human nature, it boils down to self-preservation, avoiding injuries and wounds by taking into account what happened in the past and using that information to prevent unwanted events from happening again. That way, almost everyone has experienced the concept, even if they haven’t actually used those words.
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