the burnt child dreads the fire

A form of a burnt child dreads the fire — A person harmed by something becomes more cautious about it.

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Meanings

proverb
  1. alternativeAlternative form of a burnt child dreads the fire.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
once bitten, twice shy
Cite this entry
APA

the burnt child dreads the fire. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/the%20burnt%20child%20dreads%20the%20fire

MLA

“the burnt child dreads the fire.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/the%20burnt%20child%20dreads%20the%20fire. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “the burnt child dreads the fire,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/the%20burnt%20child%20dreads%20the%20fire.

Source: the burnt child dreads the fire on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.