it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks

it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks

It is exceptionally difficult to teach some new skill or behavior to someone, especially an older person, who is already firmly set in their ways. It's great that you want to teach your grandpa how to use a computer, but just be aware that it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks.

See also: an, dog, hard, new, old, teach, to, trick

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

teach an old dog new tricks, one can't/it's hard to

The elderly cannot or will not change their ways. This saying dates from the sixteenth century, at first appearing with a literal meaning in a book of Husbandry (1523) and then in John Heywood’s 1546 proverb collection. It is still current.

See also: an, dog, hard, new, old, one, teach, to

The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer