He promised to change, but a leopard cannot change its spots.
a leopard cannot change its spots
idiomPeople rarely change their fundamental nature, however much they may seem to.
Origin
The phrase comes from Jeremiah 13:23, where the prophet asks a pointed rhetorical question about a people set in their ways: "Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil."
Jeremiah's logic is that habitual wrongdoing becomes second nature — as fixed and unalterable as an animal's markings. The answer to his question is plainly no, and that is the point.
English lifted the leopard and dropped the rest, and the saying now runs "a leopard cannot change its spots." It means that a person's basic character does not really change: someone who has behaved a certain way all their life is unlikely to become a different person, whatever promises they make.
She took him back hoping he had matured, forgetting that a leopard cannot change its spots.
The board reinstated the old chief executive on assurances of reform, ignoring every sign that a leopard cannot change its spots — and within a year the same practices were back.
The rise and fall of kings and the warnings of the prophets.
- 01
David and Goliath (idiom)
A contest in which a much weaker underdog faces a far stronger opponent.
- 02
the writing on the wall (idiom)
A clear sign that something, especially failure or disaster, is on its way.
- 03
feet of clay (idiom)
In someone apparently strong and without failings, a hidden weakness which could lead to downfall.
- 04
a drop in the bucket (idiom)
A quantity so small it is negligible next to what is actually needed.
- 05
how the mighty have fallen (idiom)
A remark on the dramatic downfall of someone once powerful or admired.
- 06
a still small voice (idiom)
A quiet inner prompting of conscience or intuition.