old habits 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 habits die hard.

Prov. People find it difficult to change their accustomed behavior. Joan retired last year, but she still gets up as early as she used to when she had to go to work. Old habits die hard.

See also: die, habit, hard, old

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

old habits die hard

COMMON People say old habits die hard to mean that people often do not like to change things that they have been doing for a long time. Despite ideas of equality, old habits die hard and women still carry the main burden of looking after home and family. The Council had introduced a few small changes, but old habits die hard. Note: You can use other words instead of habit. Women are still unequal in socialist countries and old attitudes die hard. They are the first to admit that old national prejudices die hard. Note: Die-hard is used to describe people who continue to support a person or a belief that is no longer popular with most people. The band broke up in 1970 and die-hard fans have been waiting for a reunion ever since. A few diehard conservatives cling to traditional ideology.

See also: die, habit, hard, old

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

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

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017