a leopard can't change its spots

a leopard can'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 can't change its spots.
See also: change, leopard, spot
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

leopard cannot change his spots

Prov. One cannot change the basic way one is. Bill may say he'll stop being so jealous after Cindy marries him, but I doubt he will. A leopard can't change his spots.
See also: cannot, change, leopard, spot
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

leopard cannot change its spots, a

Also, the tiger cannot change its stripes. One can't change one's essential nature. For example, He's a conservative, no matter what he says; the leopard cannot change its spots. These metaphoric expressions both originated in an ancient Greek proverb that appears in the Bible (Jeremiah 13:23): "Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots?" It was first recorded in English in 1546.
See also: cannot, change, leopard
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

a leopard can't change his spots

people can't change their basic nature. proverb
See also: change, leopard, spot
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

a leopard cannot change its ˈspots

(saying) a person’s character does not change: A dictator is unlikely to become a good leader in a democracy. A leopard cannot change its spots.
See also: cannot, change, leopard, spot
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • as one door closes, another (one) opens
  • as one door closes, another one opens
  • as one door closes, another opens
  • drive (one) out of office
  • force (one) out of office
  • force out of office
  • give (someone) an inch and (someone) (will) take a mile
  • give (someone) an inch and (someone) (will) take a yard
  • give head
  • give (one) (one's) head
References in periodicals archive
A leopard can't change its spots; neither can 'Archie' disguise himself in the Letter Page!
The game's afoot!
THEY say a leopard can't change its spots - it seems the same goes for the increasingly bonkers Britney Spears.
Just another day in odd nightlife of Britney
A leopard can't change its spots but hotel heiress Paris really ought to think about changing this outfit.
YourLIFE: What were you thinking? THEY ALL HAVE ACCESS TO STYLISTS AND ENOUGH CASH TO KIT THEMSELVES OUT IN THE LATEST DESIGNER LOOKS. SO WHY IS IT THAT SOME CELEBS CAN GET IT SOOD WRONG?
With the IRA also withdrawing its offer to put weapons beyond use, it just shows that a leopard can't change its spots and the provos will always return to the bullet and the bomb.
Mirror M@ilbox: Andy's right - IRA are just gangsters
THEY say a leopard can't change its spots and French designer Thierry Mugler showed he is no different.
SPOT-ON STYLE