A burnt child dreads the fire

Meaning

The idiom "a burnt child dreads the fire" means that a person who has experienced a traumatic event or difficult situation may be reluctant to go through it again or approach similar situations in the future. It suggests that a painful experience can leave a lasting impression on someone and make them wary of repeating it.

Usage

• "After going through a painful breakup, Sarah was hesitant to start dating again. She feared that she might get hurt again."
• "John had failed his driving test twice before, but he kept trying until he passed. He learned from his mistakes and didn't let the fear of failure stop him."
• "Mary had a negative experience with her boss in the past, so she was hesitant to seek feedback or ask for help from them again."
• "The company had gone through several rounds of layoffs, but they survived each one. They were now more cautious and focused on cost-cutting measures instead of expanding."
• "After being scalded by hot water as a child, Laura was always careful not to touch the stove or cook with open flames."

Roots and History

The idiom "a burnt child dreads the fire" dates back to the 16th century and has its roots in Old English folklore. It is believed that if a child touches a hot stove, they will be afraid of fire forever and may never dare to approach it again. The phrase became an idiom to describe someone who had gone through a traumatic experience and was wary of repeating it. In contemporary language, the idiom has been adapted to describe any situation or person that is reluctant to go through a difficult experience again. It suggests that a painful experience can leave a lasting impression on someone and make them wary of repeating it.

Synonyms in English

• "Bitten twice, shy" (meaning someone who has been hurt twice before and is hesitant to take risks)
• "Scared straight" (meaning someone who has had a negative experience and is now reluctant to go through a similar situation again)
• "Shell-shocked" (meaning someone who has been traumatized by a difficult experience and is now wary of repeating it)
• "Beware the boogeyman" (meaning someone who is cautious about facing their fears or taking risks)
• "No regrets" (meaning someone who has learned from their mistakes and doesn't regret them)

Synonyms in other languages

• Spanish: "Nunca más" - meaning "never again". This idiom is used to describe someone who wants to avoid a difficult situation or person they have had a negative experience with.
• French: "Laisser une mauvaise expérience derrière" - meaning "to leave behind a bad experience". This idiom suggests that someone has learned from their mistakes and won't repeat them in the future.
• Italian: "Non ripetere gli stessi errori" - meaning "not to repeat the same mistakes". This idiom conveys the idea of learning from one's past experiences and avoiding making the same mistakes again.
• German: "Man lernt aus den Fehlern" - meaning "one learns from their errors". This idiom suggests that mistakes are a natural part of life and we can learn from them to avoid similar situations in the future.
• Dutch: "We hebben een lezing gehad" - meaning "we have learned a lesson". This idiom conveys the idea that difficult experiences can teach us valuable lessons and help us grow as individuals.

Similar Idioms

• a fish out of water

• scared to death

• a bit much