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English
Etymology
A form of (obsolete) “An old dog will learn no tricks”.[1]
Proverb
you can't teach an old dog new tricks
It is impossible to change people's habits , traits , or mindset .
Antonyms
Translations
too old to change
Czech: starého psa novým kouskům nenaučíš
Danish: man kan ikke lære en gammel hund nye kunster
Estonian: vanale koerale juba uusi trikke ei õpeta
Finnish: vanhalle koiralle ei voi opettaa uusia temppuja ( literally “ an old dog can not be taught new tricks ” )
French: il faut ployer l’arbre pendant qu’il est jeune ( literally: a tree must be bent while it is young ) , on ne change pas les vieilles habitudes
German: was Hänschen nicht lernt, lernt Hans nimmermehr (de)
Greek: παλιός γάιδαρος καινούρια περπατησιά δε μαθαίνει ( paliós gáidaros kainoúria perpatisiá de mathaínei , literally “ the old donkey cannot learn a new walk ” ) , τώρα στα γεράματα, μάθε γέρο γράμματα ( tóra sta gerámata, máthe géro grámmata )
Hungarian: öreg /vén muzsikusnak /zenésznek nem lehet (már ) új nótát tanítani késő az agg ebet táncra tanítani
Icelandic: það er erfitt að kenna gömlum hundi að sitja ( literally “ teaching an old dog to sit is a daunting task ” )
Irish: nuair a chríonann an tslat is deacair í a lúbadh ( literally “ when the rod gets old, it is difficult to bend ” )
Italian: il cane vecchio non si abitua più alla catena
Latin: senex psittacus negligit ferulam ( literally “ the old parrot neglects ferule ” )
Norwegian: man kan ikke lære en gammel hund apport
Polish: przyzwyczajenie jest drugą naturą człowieka czego Jaś się nie nauczy, tego Jan nie będzie umiał (pl)
Portuguese: papagaio velho não aprende a falar pau que nasce torto nunca se endireita
Russian: горба́того моги́ла испра́вит (ru) ( gorbátovo mogíla isprávit , literally “ a hunchback will be corrected by the grave ” ) , ста́рого пса но́вым шту́кам не нау́чишь ( stárovo psa nóvym štúkam ne naúčišʹ )
Scottish Gaelic: an t-aon nach teagaisgear ris a' ghlùin chan fhoghlamar ris an uilinn
Spanish: perro viejo no aprende trucos nuevos
Swedish: man kan inte lära gamla hundar sitta
Telugu: కుక్కతోక వంకర తీయలేము ( kukkatōka vaṅkara tīyalēmu )
Thai: ไม้อ่อนดัดง่าย ไม้แก่ดัดยาก (th) ( máai òn dàt ngâai, máai gàe dàt yâak )
Turkish: ağaç yaşken eğilir
Welsh: anodd dysgu hen gostog ( literal ) , anodd diddyfnu hen ( literally “ difficult to wean old ” )
See also
References
^ Nathan Bailey (1721 ) Divers Proverbs [1] 72