once a something, always a something

once a (something), always a (something)

A person's innate or fundamental nature is not something they are willing or able to change. He says he's trying to leave his life of crime behind, but once a criminal, always a criminal. Even years after leaving the stage, she still can't resist performing—once an actor, always an actor.

once a —, always a —

a person cannot change their fundamental nature.

1993 Margaret Atwood The Robber Bride She was once a Catholic…and once a Catholic, always a Catholic, according to her mother.

See also: always, once, something

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on your side
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on your tod
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on your/its last legs
on your/the/its way
on/along the lines of...
on/at the stroke of eight, midnight, etc.
on/off duty
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once you go black, you never go back
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once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
once-over
once-over-lightly
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ONCC
ONCCCC
ONCCTRT
ONCD
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once
once
once
once
once
Once & Again
Once (album)
Once (album)
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Once A Month
Once a Month Association
Once a month cooking
Once a Month Shopping
Once a mortgage always a mortgage
once a mortgage, always a mortgage
once a priest always a priest
Once a priest, always a priest
Once a recompense always a recompense
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Once a Week
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Once and Again
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Once and Future Action Network
Once and Future Blues
Once and Future King
Once and only once
Once Bitten
once bitten twice shy
Once bitten, twice shy
Once bitten, twice shy
Once bitten, twice shy.
Once Daily
Once Daily Aminoglycoside
Once Damned, Always Damned
once for all
once hell freezes over
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