一日一成语【31】burn one’s fingers

burn one’s fingers

对每一个小孩来说，火都是件新奇的事。我们每个人在自己的生活中都免不了有过玩火的经历。比如，试着划一根火柴啦!找点纸片或什么的烧一烧啦!或者点根蜡烛啦!但在这个过程中，都免不了让为烧到自己的手指。但只要烧过一次，以后就学乖了，就知道不该玩火了，或者学会该怎么点火了。所以burn one’s fingers 被用来泛指使人觉得聪明起来的吃亏上当：

How many times do I have to tell you not to do that? Must you burn your fingers and learn?
我要告诉你多少次别干那件事？你一定要吃了亏才学乖吗？

When he was an inexperienced young man, he burned his fingers in the casino, and he swore never to gamble again.
当他是个乳臭未干的毛头小子时，曾在赌场里上过当，因此发誓从此不赌。

He wouldn’t listen to our advice and insisted on taking the risk. Finally he got his fingers burnt.
他不听我们的忠告，坚持到冒这个险，最后终于吃了大亏。