See the hottest books publishing this Summer

Why do we say "Old habits die hard"?

Well-Known Expressions

Old habits die hard

Meaning:

People tend to be slow to change their ways and accept change.

Background:

According to Gregory Titleman's America's Popular Proverbs and Sayings, this expression has been traced back to 1450, but it does provide references to this earlier use and we were unable to find any verification online. The first known citation in the USA is in an article by Benjamin Franklin printed in London Chronicle in December 1758.

The noun die-hard, meaning a person who vigorously resists changes, is extrapolated from this proverb.

More expressions and their source

Challenge yourself with BookBrowse Wordplays

BookBrowse Book Club

  • Book Jacket
    The Ghostwriter
    by Julie Clark
    From the instant New York Times bestselling author of The Last Flight and The Lies I Tell comes a dazzling new thriller.
1
2
3
PrevNext

Members Recommend

  • Book Jacket

    Ordinary Love
    by Marie Rutkoski

    A riveting story of class, ambition, and bisexuality—one woman risks everything for a second chance at first love.

    Read the Reviews
  • Book Jacket

    Making Friends Can Be Murder
    by Kathleen West

    Thirty-year-old Sarah Jones is drawn into a neighborhood murder mystery after befriending a deceptive con artist.

    Read the Reviews
1
2
PrevNext
Who Said...

Show me the books he loves and I shall know the man...

Click Here to find out who said this, as well as discovering other famous literary quotes!

Wordplay

Solve this clue:

B a L

and be entered to win..

Your guide toexceptional          books

BookBrowse seeks out and recommends the best in contemporary fiction and nonfiction—books that not only engage and entertain but also deepen our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.