What does ‘curiosity killed the cat’ mean?
To “curiosity killed the cat” means to being too inquisitive can lead to harm. The modern form is not in Brewer's 1898; the older proverb was 'care killed the cat' (found in Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, 1598), and 'curiosity' was substituted later, apparently in the early 20th century.
Origin
- The modern form is not in Brewer's 1898; the older proverb was 'care killed the cat' (found in Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, 1598), and 'curiosity' was substituted later, apparently in the early 20th century.
How to use it
- A mild warning against nosiness; often softened in reply with 'but satisfaction brought it back.'
- Example: Don't read her diary — curiosity killed the cat.
Source:
Last verified: 2026-07-18
- Definitions and origins are drawn from public-domain reference works, primarily Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898), with modern usage notes clearly marked.