You cannot teach an old dog new tricks



You cannot teach an old dog new tricks.

Prov. Someone who is used to doing things a certain way cannot change. (Usually not polite to say about the person you are talking to; you can say it about yourself or about a third person.) I've been away from school for fifteen years; I can't go back to college now. You can't teach an old dog new tricks. Kevin's doctor told him not to eat starchy food anymore, but Kevin still has potatoes with every meal. I guess you can't teach an old dog new tricks.
See also: cannot, dog, new, old, teach, trick

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Ingi-Ancient Scandinavian
Sabrinasə-BREEN-ə (English), sah-BREE-nah (Italian), zahp-REE-nah (German)English, Italian, German
Concettakon-CHET-tahItalian
Yijun-Chinese
RÓNÁNRON-awnIrish
Valerianvə-LIR-ee-ən (English)History, Russian, Ukrainian, Georgian, Romanian