curiosity killed the cat

idiom

Meaning

Stop asking questions

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.

Examples

SIMPLE

Don't open that box; remember that curiosity killed the cat.

CONTEXTUAL

I know you want to find out what they are hiding, but curiosity killed the cat.

COMPLEX

While he was tempted to read his sister's private diary, he decided to walk away, mindful that curiosity killed the cat.

Last updated June 7, 2026