Here you will learn 8 English idioms related to habits with meanings and examples.Β
Nip in the bud, old habits die hard and kick the habit meaning.
8 English Idioms Related to Habits
Share and help other students to improve English skills
We all have habits. Habits are what we do everyday. We get up at the same time. We eat the sameΒ cereal. We read the same newspaper, every day. That is a habit. Let’s look at some English idioms related toΒ habits. Good habits are acceptable although sometimes a little strange (like standing on your headΒ before having breakfast) but bad habits are usually socially unacceptable: smoking in public places orΒ picking your nose!!
Intermediate to Advanced English Marathon
INSANITY: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
creature of habit
This is often used to define all of us. Everyone has habits. Some good and someΒ bad but we all have them and therefore we can all be described as being creatures of habit, meaning we do the same things in the same way.
Example:
I am such a creature of habit when it comes to my morning routine.
Creature of habit - idiom meaning
Creature of habit meaning - video lesson
break the habit
Good habits are accepted but bad habits are not and people are encouraged toΒ stop them.
Example:
Try and get him to stop whistling in the house, it is bad luck. Try to get him to break the habit.
Just do it! Try to break the habit of excessive thinking.
by force of habit
When we do something frequently and often (like all habits) and when we do something without really thinking then we can say it was done by the force of habit.
Example:
Michael retired from work 2 weeks ago. He used to get up every day at 6 am to get ready for work. Now he does not have to but he finds that he still does get up at 6 am by force of habit. It will take a while to stop.
8 English Idioms related to Habits
why break the habit of a lifetime?
This is a rhetorical question. (Something we ask ourselves notΒ expecting an answer of course).
Example:
John enjoyed a glass of wine every evening when he came home from the office. His doctor told him he should only drink 2/3 times each week. However, he still poured his glass of wine each evening because he enjoyed it. Why break the habit of a lifetime he thought!
kick the habit
Give up something (usually bad) that you have done for a long time.
We are always encouraged to stop bad habits particularly smoking and habits thatΒ impact on our health. Advertising against smoking is usually very forceful and strong.
Example:
Kick the habit (stop smoking) today!
old habits die hard
It is hard to stop doing something that someone has been doing for ages.
Example:
It was hard for Mary to give up sweets and biscuits after eating them every day for twenty years. Old habits die hard!
NIP IN THE BUD
When you want to stop a habit from forming before it gets too serious we use thisΒ expression “nip it in the bud”. It means to stop it as soon as you notice it becoming a habitΒ otherwise it will be difficult to stop.
Example:
His mother noticed that he was beginning to get up later and later for school every day. She decided to nip it in the bud as soon as possible and bought him an extra alarm clock so his lateness would not become a habit.
We decided to nip it in the bud before it became unmanageable.
8 English Idioms related to Habits
head him off at the pass
When you want to stop somebody doing something you do not agreeΒ with you decide to intervene (stop him) and plan something that will make him stop before heΒ makes a mistake.
Example:
David was going to fire our secretary because he thought we did not need her. In fact, she was essential as she was well-liked by all our clients and often they did business with us because of the way she treated them. We decided to head him off at the pass and get our clients to write to David telling him how important she was. He could not fire her after this.
get into the habit
to begin to do something regularly
Example:
Let’s get into the habit of posting original content.
Let’s get into the habit of saying positive things.
So here are my 8 English idioms related to habits:
- creature of habit
- break the habit
- by force of habit
- why break the habit of a lifetime
- kick the habit
- old habits die hard
- head him off at the pass
- get into the habit
Let’s make a habit of learning English!Β When you are finished learning idioms related to habits, here are some more English idioms for you to remember.
improve english on a budget
Online English Courses from β¬7.99
More Information
How to speak English fluently and confidently? The answer is very simple – improve your English vocabulary and master English grammar. For more information on useful English Idioms, check out the following links:
USEFUL ENGLISH IDIOMS RELATED TO DREAMS
IMPORTANT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ED AND ING ADJECTIVES
Exercises on English idiomatic expressions can be found here
You will love these English lessons
How To Make Small Talk In English
How to make small talk in English? Small talk is a very important part of the English language. It’s the
Evaluative Adjectives In English
Learn evaluative adjectives in English. These English adjectives will help you improve your speaking and writing skills. Positive and negative
10 Idioms about Health and Illness
There are many idioms about health and illness in the English language. As much as we all want to stay