brennt barn forðast eldinn

Icelandic

Etymology

From brennt the neuter of brenndur (“burnt”) and barn (“child”) and forðast (“shuns, avoids, steer clear of”) and eldinn (“the fire”) the accusative definite form of eldur (“fire”). Literally meaning "a burnt child steers clear of the fire" or "a child burnt shuns the fire".

Proverb

brennt barn forðast eldinn

1. once bitten, twice shy, a burnt child dreads the fire