teach an old dog new tricks

Idioms  

1. Change longstanding habits or ways, especially in an old person. For example, His grandmother avoids using the microwave oven—you can't teach an old dog new tricks. This expression, alluding to the difficulty of changing one's ways, was first recorded in 1523 in a book of husbandry, where it was used literally. By 1546 a version of it appeared in John Heywood's proverb collection.

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Example Sentences

"Just because you're 'senior', let's say that, it doesn't mean the end - you can teach an old dog new tricks."

From BBC • Nov. 1, 2025

They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.

From Washington Post • Sep. 20, 2022

You might save yourself some unpleasantness if you keep in mind the old maxim that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.

From Scientific American • Nov. 25, 2021

The old adage that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks doesn’t apply in Wilfert’s case.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 6, 2021

Well, you can not teach an old dog new tricks.

From Personal Recollections of Pardee Butler by Boggs, John, Elder