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Burn One's Fingers

What Does "Burn One's Fingers" Mean?

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"Burn one's fingers" is an English idiom. It means "to suffer injury or loss by meddling or by undertaking something."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "burn one's fingers" used in a sentence:
  • I got burned once in the stock market, and now I'm more cautious.
  • She burnt her fingers by getting involved in their dispute.
  • He won't invest in property again; he's already burned his fingers once.
meaning for burn one's fingers

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Burn One's Fingers" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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