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Chris -- 2018-04-11

#1 2010-08-06 13:46:24

klakritz
Eggcornista
From: Winchester Massachusetts
Registered: 2005-10-25
Posts: 674

'one bit, twice shy' for 'once bit, twice shy'

Dropping two letters changes the grammar of this aphorism. ‘Bit’ goes from verb to noun. The meaning changes from ‘once bitten or attacked, and you avoid the animal that bit you,’ to ‘one instance or small amount of a problem, and you avoid the same circumstance.’ Uncommon. Examples-

I think he wanted to spend the night but alas….one bit twice shy….I had him leave and went to bed by myself …
forums.plentyoffish.com/datingPosts12071147.aspx

i said the other day those stop losses were trouble one bit twice shy believe me…
www.stockhouse.com/.../MessageDetailThr … x?p…m…

“One bit, twice shy,” is an old saying, but nevertheless very true, and that is the leason why there have been no imported potatoes landed in Wanganui …
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz › ... › 18 Haratua 1907 › Page 6

Believe me, one bit, twice shy! I’m not getting caught again!
www.independent.co.uk/.../revealed-secr … 82735.html

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#2 2010-08-06 14:39:17

David Bird
Eggcornista
From: The Hammer, Ontario
Registered: 2009-07-28
Posts: 1690

Re: 'one bit, twice shy' for 'once bit, twice shy'

In this neck of the woods you’re once bitten, twice shy. That can be tweaked to reflect rueful rather than painful experience: Once bitter, twice shy.

Buyer behaviour
the ‘once bitter, twice shy’ consumer may be unwilling to take a chance, again.

There are about 20 unique hits of this, though there may be some intentional play in there.

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