old habits, traditions, etc. die hard

old habits die hard

proverb It's difficult to stop performing actions that have been established as habits or routines. Even though we're all grown up, my mother still insists on cooking and doing laundry for me and all my siblings. I guess old habits die hard. Even years after retiring from the Marines, old habits die hard. I still can't sit down for a meal without eating it as quickly as possible.

See also: die, habit, hard, old

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

old ˌhabits, traˌditions, etc. die ˈhard

used to say that things change very slowly: ‘Even though she’s retired, she still gets up at 6 a.m.’ ‘Well, I guess old habits die hard.’ ▶ ˈdiehard noun, adj.: A few diehards are trying to stop the reforms. ♢ diehard supporters of the exiled king

See also: die, hard, old

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