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Whom a serpent has bitten, a lizard alarms. Audio


Meaning and origin

This proverb means that once someone has experienced a negative or harmful situation, they become overly cautious and fearful of even harmless things that remind them of that experience.

The origin of this proverb is unclear, but it is believed to have originated in England or the United States. It may have originated from observations of human behavior and reactions to past traumatic events. The comparison of a harmless lizard (or rope) to a dangerous serpent highlights the idea of exaggerated fear and caution.