bad habits die hard

bad habits die hard

proverb Bad habits or unhealthy lifestyle choices that people have become very accustomed to are especially difficult to change or give up. Likely an adaptation of the more common "old habits die hard." I've read all the literature, I know all the health warnings, and I'm aware of how much I spend each day on cigarettes, but still I can't resist the urge to buy another pack. Bad habits die hard. Even as a grown adult, he still bites his nails when he's not paying attention. I guess bad habits really do die hard.
See also: bad, die, habit, hard
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • teach a man to fish
  • it takes a village
  • village
  • an apple a day
  • apple a day
  • best-laid plans go astray, the
  • the best-laid plans
  • the best-laid plans go astray
  • the best-laid plans of mice and men
  • a woman's work is never done
References in periodicals archive
Bad habits die hard and, clearly, the US is intent on influencing the IAEA in order to gain some traction for its flagging hostile Iran policy.
Kaveh Afrasiabi: US Efforts at IAEA Hit Tall Wall
But some bad habits die hard, and the habit of mobile phone use while driving seems to die hardest of all, some motorists admit.
Do this and get slapped a Dh800 fine, 4 black points
Bad habits die hard, yes, but remember: In the world stage, you are the Filipino nation's face and spokesman!
President, nation's face
We at National Bonds are well aware that bad habits die hard. This is why we offer a comprehensive financial planning strategy that helps customers achieve a balance between their needs and wants, their budgets and liabilities," Mohammed Qasim Al Ali, CEO of the National Bonds Corporation, said.
Retirement, homes top saving priority
Andrew Barker proposed three solutions to fix the Grammy Awards ("For Grammy, Bad Habits Die Hard").
Broken record
Indeed, for now "bad habits die hard," Internal Market Commissioner Michel Barnier lamented, on 19 March, adding that "we will make them change" (see Europolitics 4388).
FINANCIAL SERVICES : COMMISSION CONSULTS ON FEES RELATED TO BANK ACCOUNTS
KEN LAWRENCE sport@sundaymirror.co.uk AT AUGUSTA TIGER WOODS showed that bad habits die hard as he snapped, snarled and swore his way through a dramatic slump in his bid to create a comeback miracle.
Snarling TIGER; US MASTERS: WORLD NO.1 LOSES IT AS WESTIE MARCHES ON ROUND 4 LIVE ON BBC 2, 6.15PM
BAD habits die hard and Chelsea could make the same mistakes which have made life difficult for them this season.
Fulham goal could set the pace; MARK LANGDON'S VERDICT
Bad habits die hard as she soon finds herself once more doing more research on the subject than she ought to be doing.
Illegally Dead
Bad habits die hard, however, and it took just 13 minutes for Pardew to be reminded he had taken on a team requiring snookers to avoid the drop.
Football: PARD LUCK STORY; BARCLAYS PREMIERSHIP CHARLTON 2 FULHAM 2 VALLEY DEBUT RUINED BY CONTROVERSIAL GOAL Heartbreak for Charlton as Fulham equalise in final seconds
Bad habits die hard and it took just 13 minutes for Pardew to be reminded he had taken on a team requiring snookers to avoid the drop.
Football: PARD LUCK STORY; BARCLAYS PREMIERSHIP CHARLTON 2 FULHAM 2 VALLEY DEBUT RUINED BY CONTROVERSIAL GOAL Heartbreak for new boss as Fulham equalise in final seconds
But media bad habits die hard, and while it would be lovely to think harried broadcast and print journalists could hold two thoughts at once--simultaneously patting their heads and rubbing their stomachs--in an era of shrinking resources, that's rarely the ease.
Hard news for these hard times? Hardly
Bad habits die hard, and England are ending the summer much as they started it against Sri Lanka at Lord's in May - by shelling catches at colossal expense.
Cricket: NO HARM DONE; ENGLAND v PAKISTAN, 4th TEST: DAY TWO FROM THE OVAL Off-form GBH is a major worry as woeful England fail to make a dent in Pakistan line-up