A cat has nine lives, yet care will kill a cat.
Meaning: Excessive worry destroys even the most resilient creature faster than physical danger ever could.
Origin: "Care" meant worry or sorrow. Ben Jonson's Every Man in His Humour (1598) has "care'll kill a cat," and Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing (1599) says "though care killed a cat, thou hast mettle enough in thee to kill care." The saying later became "curiosity killed the cat."
More proverbs about Challenge
- Woe to the house where there is no chiding. — Silence about wrongdoing allows harm to fester, making honest correction essential for ho…
- Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. — Early guidance shapes lifelong character; foundational lessons endure through adulthood.
- Where God hath His church the devil will have his chapel. — Evil inevitably establishes itself wherever good flourishes, as opposing forces cannot co…
- Claw me, and I will claw you. — Mutual aggression escalates reciprocally; treating others harshly invites equal retaliati…
- Every cock is proud on his own dunghill. — A person commands confidence and authority only within their familiar domain, losing that…
- A cold April a barn will fill. — Late spring frosts kill pests and prevent crop diseases, ensuring abundant harvests the f…
From our compliments & insults
- Sei una persona d'oro — You're genuinely wonderful — kind, trustworthy, and precious to have in one's life.
- Che spettacolo! — You look absolutely stunning — a spontaneous burst of admiration for someone's appearance.
- Du bist ein Goldstück — You're a real gem — priceless, irreplaceable, and deeply appreciated.