PhrasesHub

You can't teach an old dog new tricks

    Definitions

      • inability to change someone's habits or behaviors
        Suggest that it is difficult or impossible to change someone's established ways, particularly those of an older individual who may be set in their ways and resistant to change

      • futility of attempting to change someone's deeply ingrained habits or beliefs
        Emphasize the pointlessness of trying to change someone's ingrained habits or beliefs, often in a humorous or resigned manner

    Examples of You can't teach an old dog new tricks

    • My grandfather has been driving for over 50 years and refuses to learn how to use a GPS. I guess you can't teach an old dog new tricks.

      The idiom "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" means that it's difficult to teach someone a new skill or behavior, especially if they've been set in their ways for a long time. In this example, the speaker is saying that their grandfather has been driving for so long that he's resistant to learning how to use a GPS, which is a newer technology. The phrase "old dog" is used to describe someone who is set in their ways and resistant to change.


    Conclusion

    This idiom carries a negative connotation, implying that changing someone's habits or behaviors is a futile and often frustrating task. It can also be used to express a sense of resignation or acceptance of a person's unchangeable nature.

    Origin of "You can't teach an old dog new tricks"

    The origin of this idiom can be traced back to an old English proverb, "You may as well attempt to teach an old dog new tricks as to try to change an old man's ways." The phrase was first recorded in a book titled "The Husbandry" by Thomas Fuller in 1732. However, it is possible that the phrase was used in oral tradition long before it was written down.

    The proverb alludes to the idea that old dogs are resistant to learning new tricks, just as older individuals may be resistant to change. It suggests that it is easier to teach something new to a young and flexible mind, rather than trying to change the ingrained behaviors of someone who is set in their ways.

    Today, the idiom is widely used in various contexts, from personal relationships to business environments, to convey the difficulty of changing someone's habits or beliefs. It is often used in a lighthearted or humorous manner, but can also carry a sense of frustration or defeat.