La Curiosidad Mató al Gato

La Curiosidad Mató al Gato

Oct 04, 2021

Literally: “Curiosity killed the cat”

Origin: this expression appears relatively late (around the XIX century) and comes from the same English expression “curiosity killed the cat” however seems that the original idiom was “care killed the cat” which in Spanish would be something like: “el cuidado mató al gato” although this last expression is not used.

Meaning and use: said to warn someone who shows a big interest in something asking too many questions about it although is “none of their business”. Is also used to remind the risks of unnecessary experimentation.

Sentence examples:

-        ¿Por qué Luisa no viene con Miguel?

-        No lo sé, a lo mejor tenía que trabajar.

-        Ayer vino Miguel con otra chica, ¿crees que ya no están juntos?

-        No lo sé y no preguntes tanto, la curiosidad mató al gato.

 

-        Why Luisa don’t come with Miguel?

-        I don’t know, maybe she had to work.

-        Yesterday Miguel came with another girl, do you think they are together?

-        I don’t know and don’t ask so much, mind your own business.

 

-        ¿Qué le pasó a tu hijo? ¿Es verdad que se cayó de un árbol?

-        Si, quería ver a los pájaros de cerca, pero ya está mejor y ha aprendido una buena lección. ¡La curiosidad mató al gato!

 

-        What happened to your son? Is it true that he fell from a tree?

 

-        Yes, he wanted to have a closer look to the birds, but now is already better and he learned a good lesson. Curiosity killed the cat!

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