curiosity killed the cat
curiosity killed the cat
Meaning
- too much curiosity can lead to dangerous situations
- being too inquisitive can get you into trouble
- a prying behaviour can be harmful
- used to warn someone not to ask too many questions about something
Example Sentences
- When he started asking too many questions of his neighbours about their whereabouts during the weekend, they warned him that curiosity killed the cat.
- When Jane asked George where he was going at the middle of the night, he replied that curiosity killed the cat.
- Joe was very curious about where Sarah was getting all her money from, but all she said was that curiosity killed the cat.
- He refused to answer any of our questions regarding where he spent his vacation, saying instead “curiosity killed the cat”.
- Though he knew all about the matter, he refused to divulge it to anyone, only saying that curiosity killed the cat.
- “Where are you going all of a sudden?” he asked. “Curiosity killed the cat” she replied.
Origin
The original expression was “care killed the cat”, where care was used to denote worry or sorrow. That original expression was first recorded in 1598 in Ben Jonson’s play “Every Man in His Humour.” The current expression with “curiosity” is much newer, and the earliest record can be found in 1898 in The Galveston Daily News.
Share your opinions9 Opinions
“…but satisfaction brought it back.” This changes the moral of the saying. Because it does encourage the prying with hopes of positive results preferably with answers. What happens when satisfaction is not achieved?
‒ Pkeshy October 28, 2021
“Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back” many people don’t actually know the second half of the idiom. It’s used to give a warning or tell someone not to be curious however when adding the rest of the idiom it shows that being curious is not always a bad thing sometimes you need to see things for yourself. Don’t blindly trust someone of something.
‒ Ghost April 14, 2021
It means that asking to many questions can get you in trouble.
‒ Parker November 13, 2020
Curiosity is not bad at all if you are trying to unravel something that will be of great importance in the long run. Where it can land someone in trouble, if it is used just to be nosy in other people’s business to satisfy one’s inquisitiveness not knowing the dangers might be associated with the reveal.
‒ Yolanda Dizon Lobo November 11, 2020
Kaykay’s opinion is valid when you have a good look at it especially with the evidence she cited. therefor I agree with her statement: “curiosity did not kill the cat”. Here’s my evidence to add: Asking questions help us learn how would it kill us? Think about everyone who has gotten into history books. Tomas Edison, Benjamin Franklin, Issac Newton they all had one thing in common: Curiosity
‒ Anonymous February 19, 2020
Curiosity did not kill the cat but it may have killed the mouse. Innately we all have a curiosity.
Curiosity is a good thing. Look at Einstein and where his curiosity took him. The reference it bears today to mind your own business is more about the process of learning about boundaries and awareness. Be curious!
‒ KayKay February 16, 2020
I think the literal meaning means like if they were curious of something dangerous they’d get killed idk
‒ Random Student October 25, 2018
What is the literal meaning?
‒ Gerald March 27, 2018
Do you know the literal and figurative meaning of this?
‒ Maria March 2, 2018