Curiosity killed the cat

Meaning

Being inquisitive can lead you into a dangerous situation.

Examples

I heard a noise outside and went to have a look. It turns out I should have ignored it, it was a bear. Curiosity killed the cat they say.

Where did it originate?

USA, late 19th century. Probably deriving from a much older British phrase – ‘care killed the cat’.

Where is it used?

Worldwide.

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About the Author

Gary Martin

Writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

Curiosity killed the cat