burn one's fingers

burn one's fingers
{v. phr.}, {informal} To get in trouble doing something and fear to do it again; learn caution through an unpleasant experience. * /He had burned his fingers in the stock market once, and didn't want to try again./ * /Some people can't be told; they have to burn their fingers to learn./

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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Synonyms:
(as by meddling in the affairs of others, or by speculation), ,


Look at other dictionaries:

  • burn one's fingers — ► burn one s fingers suffer unpleasant consequences as a result of one s actions. Main Entry: ↑finger …   English terms dictionary

  • burn one's fingers — idi burn one s fingers, to suffer injury or loss by meddling or by acting rashly …   From formal English to slang

  • To burn one's fingers — Burn Burn (b[^u]rn), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Burned} (b[^u]rnd) or {Burnt} (b[^u]rnt); p. pr. & vb. n. {Burning}.] [OE. bernen, brennen, v. t., early confused with beornen, birnen, v. i., AS. b[ae]rnan, bernan, v. t., birnan, v. i.; akin to OS.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • burn one's fingers — {v. phr.}, {informal} To get in trouble doing something and fear to do it again; learn caution through an unpleasant experience. * /He had burned his fingers in the stock market once, and didn t want to try again./ * /Some people can t be told;… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • burn\ one's\ fingers — v. phr. informal To get in trouble doing something and fear to do it again; learn caution through an unpleasant experience. He had burned his fingers in the stock market once, and didn t want to try again. Some people can t be told; they have to… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • burn one's fingers — verb to harm oneself; to suffer consequences of ones actions. He burned his fingers in the stock market and has been timid about investing ever since …   Wiktionary

  • burn one's fingers — Get one s self into trouble (as by meddling in the affairs of others, or by speculation), smart for it, get scorched …   New dictionary of synonyms

  • To burn one's fingers — Finger Fin ger (f[i^][ng] g[ e]r), n. [AS. finger; akin to D. vinger, OS. & OHG. fingar, G. finger, Icel. fingr, Sw. & Dan. finger, Goth. figgrs; of unknown origin; perh. akin to E. fang.] 1. One of the five terminating members of the hand; a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • get one's fingers burned (or burnt) (or burn one's fingers) — suffer unpleasant consequences as a result of one s actions. → finger …   English new terms dictionary

  • burn one's fingers —  Injure oneself by meddling. Incur unexpected financial loss …   A concise dictionary of English slang

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