Curiosity killed the cat saying (origins and meaning)

grahamg

grahamg

Old codger
Location
South of Manchester, UK
Some sayings you hear do sound curious, and none less I'd say than "Curiosity Killed the Cat"
https://interestingliterature.com/2019/12/meaning-and-history-phrase-curiosity-killed-the-cat/

We all think we know its meaning, though maybe not fully understand:
"The phrase suggests that a cat that went nosing about in something it shouldn't have came a-cropper and died as a result"

Or this:
"Someone who has superficial knowledge about many things but can do none of them in a correct/proper way. Jack of all trades, master of none"

And then we've got this
""Curiosity killed the cat but. satisfaction brought him back," meaning the search for. information may be daunting, but the satisfaction of. knowing is worth it."
 

Patience, possess it if you can, it is seldom
in a woman, but never in a man!

That says that not many have any patience.

Mike.
 
Mike said:
Patience, possess it if you can, it is seldom
in a woman, but never in a man!

That says that not many have any patience.

Mike.
Click to expand...
Yes, "Patience is a virtue, possess it if you can", I remember this saying repeated by my mother quite often. :)
 

In my latter years at work, I ran a large distribution centre just outside the City of Southampton. My regional manager was a lady, and very good she was too. It was one of those days, if it could go wrong, it did. She came on the phone asking: "How's it going?" Trying to be polite, I told her that the toast has hit the floor, marmalade side down. "You mean the sh*t's hit the fan," she replied. So much for minding my P's & Q's. Nowadays my wife, who loves that story, will often text me with: "Has the excrement impacted on the rotary blades today?"
 
Alligatorob, they are all accurate and in use here,
I have known them throughout my lifetime.

Mike.
 

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