curiosity killed the cat

Meaning

This idiom is a warning that being too inquisitive, asking too many questions, or snooping into other people's affairs can lead to trouble or danger. It is often used playfully or as a mild warning to stop someone from prying into secrets. Sometimes, people add the positive rejoinder: 'but satisfaction brought it back'.

Examples

• Don't ask where I got this money—remember, curiosity killed the cat!

  Don't ask where I got this money—remember, curiosity killed the cat!

• She kept trying to open the locked drawer, but I warned her that curiosity killed the cat.

  She kept trying to open the locked drawer, but I warned her that curiosity killed the cat.

• I know you want to know what they are arguing about, but curiosity killed the cat.

  I know you want to know what they are arguing about, but curiosity killed the cat.

• When he started digging into the company's private files, his colleague whispered, 'curiosity killed the cat'.

  When he started digging into the company's private files, his colleague whispered, 'curiosity killed the cat'.

• I shouldn't have looked at his diary; curiosity killed the cat, and now I'm upset.

  I shouldn't have looked at his diary; curiosity killed the cat, and now I'm upset.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ The curiosity killed the cat.

  ✓ Curiosity killed the cat.

  Do not use the definite article 'the' before 'curiosity' when stating this general proverb.

• ✗ Curiosity kills the cat.

  ✓ Curiosity killed the cat.

  Although it describes a general truth, the idiom is traditionally kept in the past tense ('killed').

Related Expressions

Practice

• I really want to open this package addressed to my roommate, but ___.

  💡 An idiom warning against being too nosy

  Show answer

  curiosity killed the cat

• Stop asking so many personal questions about their divorce; ___.

  💡 A proverb warning that prying can cause trouble

  Show answer

  curiosity killed the cat