Curiosity killed the cat is a jokey warning that being too curious can get you into trouble, and a hint not to poke into other people's business. People often reply with the playful second half: but satisfaction brought it back, meaning that finding out brought the cat back to life. With this ending, the saying suggests that it was worth finding out after all.
When would you say curiosity killed the cat?
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curiosity killed the cat (as a warning); curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back
- Don't open your sister's diary. Curiosity killed the cat, you know.
- I asked my boss why the meeting was secret, and he just said, 'Curiosity killed the cat.'
- 'Curiosity killed the cat!' 'Yes, but satisfaction brought it back. So what's in the box?'
What changed
First versionStop reading my messages. Curiosity killed a cat.
RevisionStop reading my messages. Curiosity killed the cat.
The saying always has the cat: it's a fixed form and doesn't change. With a cat, the sentence sounds like a story about some random cat rather than a saying everyone knows. The article is easy to get wrong, but a native speaker will notice it at once.
The saying tells someone off gently, with a smile. A direct Mind your own business sounds harsh and can offend: Mind your own business, it's my phone! With friends and in IELTS Speaking, curiosity killed the cat works well, but in an essay write something neutral instead: being too curious can get people into trouble.
Your turn
My neighbour kept asking about the boxes in my car, so I smiled and said, '___ killed the cat.'
Show the answer
Curiosity — The neighbour is curious about the boxes, and that's exactly what the saying is about: Curiosity killed the cat. Interest isn't used in this fixed phrase, and a native speaker wouldn't say it.
Describe a time when someone was too interested in other people's business. Say what they wanted to find out and end with the saying.
My little brother kept trying to guess my phone password to read my chats, so I told him: curiosity killed the cat.
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