Explain the phrase: "Curiosity killed the cat"?

Question

When did this catch phrase begin?

Answer 1

CURIOSITY KILLED THE CAT - Anyone who has cats knows they tend to poke their feline noses everywhere. That could be dangerous. The "Random House Dictionary of Popular Proverbs and Sayings" (1996) by Gregory Titelman states: "An overly inquisitive person is likely to get hurt. Children are usually warned against curiosity. The proverb was first attested in the United States in 1909. In 1921, it was used by (playwright) Eugene O'Neill.(A variation is) 'Curiosity killed the cat: satisfaction brought him back.'" "Wise Words and Wives Tales" (1993, Avon Books) by Stuart Flexner and Doris Flexner has a more detailed explanation: "There is nothing new about the annoying tendency of some people to ask one question too many. Proverbial admonitions to the overly curious date back to ancient times, but 'Curiosity killed the cat' is apparently a recent invention. Of the earlier sayings, Saint Augustine recorded in 'Confessions' (397) the story of a curious soul who wondered what God did in the eons before creating heaven and earth. 'He fashioned hell for the inquisitive,' came the stern reply, and proverbial sayings of more recent times have been no less forgiving. The seventeenth-century saying, "He that pryeth into every cloud may be struck with a thunderbolt,' appeared in John Clarke's 'Paroemiologia' (1639), and in the nineteenth century, Lord Byron in 'Don Juan' (1818) roundly condemned the curious with 'I loathe that low vice curiosity.' An old saw, 'Care (worry) killed the cat.,' dated from Shakespeare's time, but the connection between a cat and curiosity, however natural it may seem now, was not made until a reference to the current proverb appeared in 1909. The adaptation, 'Curiosity can do more things than kill a cat,' was recorded in O. Henry's short story 'Schools and Schools' (1909), and the exact wording of the proverb appeared later in Eugene O'Neill's 'Diff'rent' (1922).

Answer 2

This is figurative.
It is believed that the cat has 7 lives and the meaning of this saying is that it is not god to be too curious, because it could be dangerous some times, it can even kill a cat, imagine what can happen to a human being that has only 1 life.

Answer 3

Curiosity killed the cat is a proverb used to warn against being too inquisitive lest one comes to harm.

The earliest printed reference to the origin of this proverb is attributed to British playwright Ben Jonson in his 1598 play, Every Man in His Humour (performed first by British playwright William Shakespeare).

“ ...Helter skelter, hang sorrow, care will kill a cat, up-tails all, and a pox on the hangman. ”

In this instance, "care" was defined as "worry" or "sorrow."

Shakespeare used a similar quote in his circa 1599 play, Much Ado About Nothing:

“ What, courage man! what though care killed a cat, thou hast mettle enough in thee to kill care. ”

Answer 4

It basically means be wary of being too inquisitive because you never know what you'll find out, because the information you recieve might be harmful.
The earliest printed reference to the origin of this proverb is attributed to British playwright Ben Jonson in his 1598 play

Answer 5

Cats investigate everything without fear. They will jump walls, taste anything even if its not food. I live on the 2nd floor and my cat climbs the window screens. They sometimes get hurt or killed due to their constant investigations.

Answer 6

I'm not exactly sure, but I think it had something to do with lightning... hmm.. I might be wrong though.

Cats also do really stupid things sometimes. The get their nose into unneeded business. They often end up dieing even though they have 9 lives.

Answer 7

It means:
Being too nosy can get you in really big trouble.
or
Stay out of my business before I hurt you.


It's also like experimenting with drugs and dropping dead from it.
"Curiosity has killed many dumb CATS"

Answer 8

It is speaking of someones nature..........Cats are very curious animals by nature and delve into things with out knowing the outcome or may be UNAWARE they are walking into a dangerous situation.........but remember the ending to the verse.........satisfaction brought him back ................(he found the answer and what he was looking for)!!

Answer 9

Curiosity gets you in trouble

origin: Chinese restaurant

Answer 10

because cats always do dangorous things and end up getting killed