Idiom idiom
curiosity killed the cat
Meaning
Stop asking questions
Examples
“Don't open that box; remember that curiosity killed the cat.”
“I know you want to find out what they are hiding, but curiosity killed the cat.”
“While he was tempted to read his sister's private diary, he decided to walk away, mindful that curiosity killed the cat.”
Origin
first recorded 16th c. disputed origin
first recorded 16th c. disputed origin
The original proverb was 'care killed the cat' (Ben Jonson, 1598, and Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing); the 'curiosity' version emerged in the late 19th century.
Last updated June 7, 2026