Habit and Loyalty
“Old habits die hard”, “Birds of a feather flock together”, “A leopard cannot change its spots”: once the first impression is gone, English turns pessimistic. Nearly every proverb at this level says the same uncomfortable thing — that people carry on being what they have always been — and the one about family loyalty carries a famous piece of misinformation with it.
Practice this set for free — no account needed. Loads 12 flashcards into the learner. The learner asks it the other way round: meaning first, phrase second.
Practice in the free learnerHow to study this set
Most of these can be said kindly or cuttingly depending on who is in the room. Decide for each card whether you would say it to the person’s face; that is the quickest test of how sharp it actually is.
All 12 flashcards
Swap question and answerBlood is thicker than water.
Family loyalty outweighs other ties.
“They argue constantly, but she was on the first flight when he was ill — blood is thicker than water.”
Meaning, origin and more examples →A leopard cannot change its spots.
People do not change their essential nature.
“He promised to stop micromanaging and lasted a fortnight — a leopard cannot change its spots.”
Birds of a feather flock together.
Similar people gravitate towards each other.
“The three of them were inseparable by the second week — birds of a feather flock together.”
The apple does not fall far from the tree.
Children turn out much like their parents.
“She argues exactly like her mother. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”
Like father, like son.
A son repeats his father’s traits or choices.
“Both of them went into medicine in the end — like father, like son.”
Old habits die hard.
Long-standing behaviour is very difficult to give up.
“He still prints everything out. Old habits die hard.”
You cannot teach an old dog new tricks.
Set-in-their-ways people resist learning new methods.
“Thirty years of paper files and he will not touch the system — you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”
A friend in need is a friend indeed.
Real friendship shows when you actually need help.
“She drove four hours to sit with me. A friend in need is a friend indeed.”
Honesty is the best policy.
Telling the truth works out better than the alternative.
“Tell them you missed the deadline before they find out — honesty is the best policy.”
Familiarity breeds contempt.
Knowing someone or something too well erodes respect for it.
“They shared an office for a decade and could not stand each other by the end. Familiarity breeds contempt.”
Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Being apart increases affection.
“Three months in different cities and they are closer than ever — absence makes the heart grow fonder.”
One good turn deserves another.
A kindness should be repaid with a kindness.
“He covered my shift in March, so I took his in June. One good turn deserves another.”
What to learn next
Next: the proverbs that warn you what it will cost.
Continue to Level 3: Judgement and Consequence →