1
general::
Phrase(s): Once bitten, twice shy.
Prov.When something or someone has hurt you once, you tend to avoid that thing or person. • Jill: Let’s go ride the roller coaster. Jane: No, thanks. I got really sick on one of those once—once bitten, twice shy. • I once sent in money for something I saw advertised in the back of a magazine, but the merchandise was of such poor quality I was sorry I’d bought it. I’ll never buy anything that way again; once bitten, twice shy.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs