curiosity killed the cat en · X
Pronunciation
- /ˌkjʊɹ.iˈɑ.sə.ti kɪld ðə ˈkæt/ (General-American)
- /kjʊɹ.iˈɑ.sɪ.ti-/ (General-American)
- /kjɝ.iˈɑ.sɪ.ti-/ (General-American)
- (Southern-England) audio
- /kjʊə.ɹiˈɒs.ɪ.ti kɪld ðə ˈkæt/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- (General-American) audio
- /ˌkjɝ.iˈɑ.sə.ti-/ (General-American)
- /ˌkjɔːɹiˈɒs.ɪ.ti-/ (Received-Pronunciation)
Etymology
Compare earlier care killed the cat. Referring to the statement that it will kill anyone, even though they had, like the proverbial cat, nine lives.
Meanings
-
One should not be curious about things that can be dangerous.
“Imagine the setup – a person is told to sit in a chair with wires attached to their skin, and a button that will deliver a harmless but uncomfortable shock, and they are told to just sit there and entertain themselves with their thoughts,” she [Jessica Andrews-Hanna] said. “As they sit there, strapped to this machine, their mind starts to wander, and it naturally goes to that shock – was it really that bad?[”] “What are the experimenters really interested in? Perhaps this is a case where curiosity killed the cat.”
2014 July 3, Ian Sample, “Shocking but true: students prefer jolt of pain than being made to sit and think”, in Alan Rusbridger, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 04 Jul 2014:When one interviewer asks why she [Anita O’Day] started using it [heroin], she replies facetiously, “Curiosity killed the cat,” then flashes a toothy smile.
2008 August 15, Stephen Holden, “Fraught Life of a Cast-Iron Songstress”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 01 May 2014:Curiosity killed the cat — and it got the best of these bears. Watch as a trio of mischievous baby black bears in Vernon Township, New Jersey, were chased off by a protective dog after one curious cub climbed a second-floor balcony.
2021 May 24, “Cute bear cub scared off by family dog”, in New York Post, New York, N.Y.: News Corp, →ISSN, →OCLC:They say curiosity killed a cat once, so I will take warning and let things remain as they are.
1868 October 28, “Aunt Hetty’s Stratagem”, in Waterford Mirror & Tramore Visiter, Waterford, Munster: […] John S. Palmer, […], →OCLC, page [4], column 3:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| curiosity killed a cat | alternative | lexicographic | |
| curiosity kills the cat | alternative | lexicographic |
Coordinates
Synonyms
Translations (41)
pl ciekawość to pierwszy stopień do piekła (undue curiosity is dangerous) · tl ang sobra-sobrang pag-usisa ay delikado (undue curiosity is dangerous) · ru любопы́тной Ва́рваре на база́ре нос оторва́ли (undue curiosity is dangerous) · fr la curiosité est un vilain défaut (undue curiosity is dangerous) · da nysgerrighed slog smedens kat ihjel (undue curiosity is dangerous) · mt il-kurżità qatlet il-qattus (undue curiosity is dangerous) · ja 好奇心は猫をも殺す (undue curiosity is dangerous) · el η περιέργεια σκότωσε τη γάτα (undue curiosity is dangerous) · ga fios a mharaigh an cat (undue curiosity is dangerous) · fi uteliaisuus tappoi kissan (undue curiosity is dangerous) · nb nysgjerrig høne får enten korn eller knuff (undue curiosity is dangerous) · ro curioșii mor repede (undue curiosity is dangerous) · es la curiosidad mató al gato (undue curiosity is dangerous) · pt a curiosidade matou o gato (undue curiosity is dangerous) · sv nyfiken i en strut (undue curiosity is dangerous) · gl a curiosidade matou o gato (undue curiosity is dangerous) · mk љубопитноста ја убила мачката (undue curiosity is dangerous) · it la curiosità uccise il gatto (undue curiosity is dangerous) · pl ciekawy kot do studni wpadł (undue curiosity is dangerous) · hi आ बैल मुझे मार (undue curiosity is dangerous) · et uudishimu tappis kassi (undue curiosity is dangerous) · cmn 好奇害死貓 /好奇害死猫 (undue curiosity is dangerous) · nl de duivel heeft het vragen uitgevonden (undue curiosity is dangerous) · hu aki kíváncsi, hamar megöregszik (undue curiosity is dangerous) · it la troppa curiosità spinge l'uccello nella rete (undue curiosity is dangerous) · tr fazla merak göte yarak (undue curiosity is dangerous) · nl nieuwsgierigheid doodde de kat (undue curiosity is dangerous) · ru любопы́тство ко́шку сгуби́ло (undue curiosity is dangerous) · tr ya meraktan, ya yaraktan (undue curiosity is dangerous) · sh radòznalōst je ubila mačku (undue curiosity is dangerous) · ar الْفُضُولُ قَتَلَ الْقِطَّ (undue curiosity is dangerous) · he הַסַּקְרָנוּת הָרְגָה אֶת הֶחָתוּל (undue curiosity is dangerous) · it tanto va la gatta al lardo, che ci lascia lo zampino (undue curiosity is dangerous) · nb nysgjerrighet drepte katten (undue curiosity is dangerous) · de Neugier ist der Katze Tod (undue curiosity is dangerous) · ru от любопы́тства ко́шка сдо́хла (undue curiosity is dangerous) · hy հետաքրքրասիրությունը սպանեց կատվին (undue curiosity is dangerous) · ca la curiositat va matar el gat (undue curiosity is dangerous) · sh радо̀знало̄ст је убила мачку (undue curiosity is dangerous) · cs nebuď zvědavej, budeš brzo starej (undue curiosity is dangerous) · cy busnesa a laddodd y gath (undue curiosity is dangerous)