proverb · Words worth keeping
A burnt child dreads the fire.
A burnt child dreads the fire.
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
An unpleasant experience can make someone cautious about encountering the same danger again. Their reluctance may reflect what happened before rather than the present situation alone.
Example
After losing files during an untested software update, a team backs up its work before trying the next version.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The child remembers being hurt and becomes wary of the fire. The proverb uses that simple image to explain caution shaped by experience. It can apply after a broken promise, a failed arrangement or an embarrassing mistake: the next similar opportunity may feel less safe. Recognising that background can help another person respond with patience rather than calling the hesitation unreasonable. The saying does not prove that all similar situations carry the same risk. Its useful lesson is to understand the caution and check the current conditions before deciding how much of the earlier warning still applies.
When to use it
Use it to explain caution that follows a previous bad experience.
Keep in mind
A past failure may not predict the next outcome; reassess the specific risk rather than avoiding everything similar.
An interpretation of the words, not a claim about their earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Date unknown
- Culture
- English