# curiosity killed the cat

idiom · CEFR B2

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/curiosity-killed-the-cat
Updated: 2026-06-07

## 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

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. (disputed)

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.