habit

bad habits die hard

proverb Bad habits or unhealthy lifestyle choices that people have become very accustomed to are especially difficult to change or give up. Likely an adaptation of the more common "old habits die hard." I've read all the literature, I know all the health warnings, and I'm aware of how much I spend each day on cigarettes, but still I can't resist the urge to buy another pack. Bad habits die hard. Even as a grown adult, he still bites his nails when he's not paying attention. I guess bad habits really do die hard. A: "I can't believe you still stay up till 3 AM every night now that you have a nine-to-five office job." B: "Yeah, it's not great. Bad habits die hard."

See also: bad, die, habit, hard

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

habit

n. an addiction to a drug. There are many treatment programs to help with drug habits.

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.