old habits die hard
phrase
—used to say it is hard to stop doing things that one has been doing for a long time
I just can't seem to give up smoking. Old habits die hard.
Cite this Entry
“Old habits die hard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/old%20habits%20die%20hard. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
