old habits die hard

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old habits die hard

Meaning

  • difficult to discontinue of an aged habit
  • the phenomenon of doing something just out of habit rather that it being of any use
  • to be habituated to do something

Example Sentences

  1. The colonel still sleeps with a loaded pistol by his side, even though he has retired from the army ten years backs. As they say, old habits die hard.
  2. I am a stern believer of the fact that old habits die hard, which is why I am trying to instil positive behaviour in my children while they are young.
  3. You should be alert about which habits are causing you harm and nip them in the bud because old habits really die hard.
  4. I have been going for a walk in the mornings for the last 10 years now and old habits die hard.
  5. She is stubborn about not taking any painkillers even though she has been through a major surgery. Old habits truly die hard.
  6. My grandmother expects my mother to press her feet every day, old habits die hard. But it is high time other take a chance to help granny out instead of it always just being my mom.

Origin

A teacher – Gregory Y Titelman explains in his book America’s Popular Proverbs and Sayings that this phrase can be traced back to history before 1450.

The first known citation in the United States is in an article by Benjamin Franklin printed in the London Chronicle in December 1758.

The phrase is a literal meaning one and emphasizes on the fact that a habit becomes more and more ingrained into a person with time, whether good or bad. It is often seen within the elderly that they are not open to making even small changes. This is because of the fact that the habits slowly become a part of their lives.

Share your opinions1 Opinion

“The origin of the phrase old habits die hard is unknown, but it has been in use at least since 1758 when it appeared in an article penned by Benjamin Franklin.”

I haven’t found a source yet, but like many sayings, it could have been adapted to English from an idiom found in early Jewish texts or the Tanakh (or Old Testament). Sayings like “nothing new under the sun”, and many more can be found in The Book of Solomon (Proverbs), and various other books.

‒ No One January 2, 2021

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