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
- once bitten, twice shy