Curiosity killed the cat

Meaning

The idiom "curiosity killed the cat" is a figurative expression that means an innocent person or thing may be harmed because someone has become too curious or inquisitive about it. It suggests that curiosity can be dangerous and lead to negative consequences, which is why it's important to exercise caution when investigating matters.

Usage

• The journalist's curiosity killed the story when they accidentally revealed sensitive information.
• Emily's curiosity killed her when she decided to explore a dark alley alone at night.
• My boss's curiosity killed my career when they decided to investigate my personal emails.
• The cat's curiosity killed it when it got stuck in the oven.
• James's curiosity killed him when he tampered with an electrical device. The usage of this idiom can vary depending on the context. It can be used in a serious or lighthearted tone, and it can apply to people or things. For example, it can be used to caution someone about being too curious, or to explain why something unexpected happened as a result of curiosity.

Roots and History

The earliest known use of the idiom "curiosity killed the cat" dates back to the 16th century in England. It was first published in a collection of proverbs in 1542, where it was written as "A cat that is curious may be killed." Over time, the idiom has evolved to its current meaning and usage, which emphasizes the negative consequences of curiosity.

Synonyms in English

• Nosiness killed the fun
• Inquisitiveness got me fired
• Snoopiness got me into trouble
• Prying got me into hot water
• Stubbornness cost me my job

Synonyms in other languages

• Spanish: La curiosidad mata
• French: La curiosité tue
• German: Die Neugierigkeit wird belohnt, aber auch gefährdet
• Italian: La supercuriosità uccide
• Japanese: 疑心は死ぼります (Nyoushin wa shiborimasu)

Similar Idioms

• can’t judge a book by its cover

• choke up

• catch a cold