Expanding Lexicon
The stories behind the things we say.
Episode 4
Once Bitten, Twice Shy
​
Expanding Lexicon
Episode 5- Once Bitten, Twice Shy
4/6/2019
Welcome to Expanding Lexicon the story behind the things we say. Today’s episode is about a proverb.
What is today’s topic? Once Bitten, Twice Shy. Today’s proverb is one of several in use around the world with similar meaning that after having a bad experience you are usually more cautious when repeating the experience. Example: it might take me awhile to eat there again, I got sick after the last time, once bitten, twice shy (the idioms).
The exact origin of once bitten, twice shy is unknown. Both the idea that the proverb originated with a dog (the idioms) or a snake bite are seen in various articles. Either way it’s clear that after you have been bitten by an animal upon next seeing one you would approach with caution (the idioms).
The first published version of the proverb can be found in William Claxon’s 1484 translation of Aesop’s Fables. He that hath ben ones begyled by somme other ought to kepe hym wel fro the same (Ncube).” In the fable a wolf threatens to eat a dog. The dog convinces the wolf that he is currently too thin and requires some fattening up before becoming the wolfs meal. The wolf agrees and sends the dog off to fatten itself up. When the wolf comes back the dog is out of its reach. The dog has promised itself never to lay that close to the gate again, once bitten, twice shy (the idioms).
Centuries later the proverb can be found again when English author Robert Surtees wrote in his 1853 novel “Mr. Sponges sporting Tour” “he had been bit once, and he was not going to give Mr. Sponge a second chance” (Ncube). In 1894 the exact phase that we use today once bitten, twice shy was recorded in GG Northall’s “Folk Phrases of Four Countries” (Ncube).
By the conclusion of the 1920s, the phrase had been popularized (Hollie) after being used by Joseph Conrad in his 1920 novel “The Rescue.” Aldous Huxley’s 1928 “Point Counter Point” and Wyndham Lewis’ “the Apes of God” published in 1930, (Ncube) by the end of the decade once bitten, twice shy solidified itself in the English lexicon
At the end of the 20th century the author of “From wise words and wives tales” wrote once bitten twice shy was a “familiar saying”(Ncube). In 1975 Ian Hunter’s song titled “Once biten, twice shy” was on the UK charts for 10 weeks peaking at number 14. Great Whites 1989 cover of the song was nominated for a Grammy and made it to number 5 on the US charts (Songfacts) The familiar proverb is still in use today a March 2019 news article in the Bangalore Mirror titled “Once bitten, twice shy: owner catches thieves” details how a pair of thieves were caught when they tried to cheat a pawn broker for the second time (Kumar).
From literal animal bite to a saying about proceeding with caution I hope you hae enjoyed today’s episode.
Please follow the show on Instagram at expanding lexicon. For android listeners, the show is now posted on google podcasts, iPhone users can find the show on apple podcasts please subscribe! Check the website for the show notes and bibliography at www.expandinglexicon.wixsite.com/podcast. Feel free to leave comments, stories, or episode suggestions or just say hi.
​
Thank you for listening to today’s episode. I hope that it hasn’t left you once bitten, twice shy.
Works Cited
Bailey, Nathan. Divers Proverbs: with Their Explication and Illustration: 1721. Yale University Press, 1917.
“English Proverbs Explained.” English Proverbs Explained, by Ronald Ridout and Clifford Witting, Barnes and Noble Inc, 1967, p. 126.
​
Hollie. “15 Of the Most Popular Idioms in Chinese.” Written Chinese, 23 June 2017, www.writtenchinese.com/15-of-the-most-popular-idioms-in-chinese/.
​
Kumar, Praveen. “Once Bitten, Twice Shy: Owner Catches Thieves.” Bangalore Mirror, Bangalore Mirror, 23 Mar. 2019, bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/crime/once-bitten-twice-shy-owner-catches-thieves/articleshow/68528721.cms.
Ncube, Limukani. “Once Bitten Twice Shy.” The Chronicle, Zimbabwe Newspapers , 22 Nov. 2014, www.chronicle.co.zw/once-bitten-twice-shy/.
​
“Once Bitten, Twice Shy.” The Idioms, www.theidioms.com/once-bitten-twice-shy/.
​
Songfacts. “Once Bitten Twice Shy by Ian Hunter.” Songfacts, www.songfacts.com/facts/ian-hunter/once-bitten-twice-shy.
​
Webster, Jim. “Once Bitten, Twice Shy.” Once Bitten, Twice Shy - Phrase Meaning and Origin, The Phrase Finder, 31 Aug. 2001, www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/10/messages/468.html.
​
“What Does A Burnt Child Dreads the Fire Mean?” Writing Explained, writingexplained.org/idiom-dictionary/a-burnt-child-dreads-the-fire.