Once bitten twice shy OR Once beaten twice shy (See more…)

 It will not hurt to go for ‘once bitten twice shy.’ It is an idiom which means that someone who has had a bad experience in the past will be more cautious in similar situations in the future. 

The confusion surrounding the choice between ‘once bitten twice shy’ and ‘once beaten twice shy’ might be due to similarity in sound and meaning between ‘bitten’ and ‘beaten.’ They both convey the idea of experiencing harm or pain, making ‘beaten’ seem like an alternative. 

However, ‘once bitten twice shy’ which is the preferred phrase uses the metaphor of being bitten to convey the idea of being hurt or having a negative experience. 

‘Bitten’ is more fitting because it implies a sudden, painful or unpleasant experience such as being bitten by an animal.

‘Beaten’ on the other hand, implies a more prolonged or physical confrontation. This makes it deviate from the traditional phrase.