a leopard does not change its spots

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."

See also: change, leopard, spot

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

a leopard does not change its spots

or

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