Curiosity killed the cat

People should mind their own business. This expression apparently first appeared in print in an O. Henry story in the early 1900s.

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Idioms and Phrases

It's best to mind one's own business. For example, Don't ask about his divorce—curiosity killed the cat. This cautionary expression sounds like the moral of some fable or folktale, but any such origin for it has been lost. The first recorded use was in O. Henry's Schools and Schools (1909).

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“Curiosity killed the cat,” I called out to her.

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Though curiosity killed the cat, Beatrice and I followed.

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“Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back.”

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Curiosity killed the cat, I know, but I try to land on my feet.

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“Whoever coined the phrase, ‘Curiosity killed the cat,’ never met a horse,” Downs said with a grin.