a leopard doesn't change its spots

proverb One will stay true to one's nature, even if one pretends or claims otherwise. After our breakup, he came crawling back, trying to convince me that he'd changed, but I know that a leopard doesn't change its spots. You're never going to convince Tom about this—he's too stubborn, and a leopard doesn't change its spots. A: "Come on, a leopard doesn't change its spots." B: "I thought so too, but the former president really seems to have changed his views on social welfare since leaving office."

a leopard does not change its spots

a leopard cannot change its spots

mainly BRITISH

If you say that a leopard does not change its spots or a leopard cannot change its spots, you mean that it is not possible for someone bad or unpleasant to change and become good and pleasant. A liar is a liar, and a leopard cannot change its spots. Note: This expression is often varied. This racist leopard has in no way changed his spots. I believe a leopard can change his spots, and this guy is really committed. Note: A form of this proverb is used in the Bible, by the prophet Jeremiah, to say that wicked people never change: `Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.' (Jeremiah 13:23)

See also: change, does, leopard, not, spot

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

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References in periodicals archive

IT would be wonderful if Bahrain could solve one of its problems, as mentioned in your article (GDN, January 22) "Opposition in key talks." However, I am reminded by one of my managers that when I was considering rehiring, for a third time, a former employee, my manager stated "a leopard does not change its spots." Somehow, I am of the same opinion about the "opposition."

Dialogue worry..

Natalie is not the only one who tried to make things work but who in the end had to admit that a leopard does not change its spots.

Brave example; RecordView