Looking up...
die hard
/daɪ hɑːrd/
persistent or enduring
Old habits die hard.
It is difficult to change long-standing behaviors or beliefs.
informal
persistent or enduring despite time or change
The tradition of afternoon tea in Britain is one that dies hard.
This tradition is very difficult to abandon.
His belief in conspiracy theories dies hard.
He is very reluctant to change his mind.
Often used to describe habits, beliefs, or traditions that are deeply ingrained and difficult to eliminate.
Collocations
old habits die hardlong-standing behaviors are difficult to change
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Usage Context
Use 'die hard' to describe things that are deeply rooted and persist despite efforts to change them. It is not used for physical objects or temporary states.
Gold Rule
Avoid Literal Interpretation
Do not confuse 'die hard' with the literal meaning of 'to stop living.' It is always used figuratively to describe persistence.
Word Origin
From the literal sense of 'die' (to cease living) and 'hard' (firmly or strongly). The phrase originated in the 19th century, likely from the idea that something deeply ingrained (like a habit) is as hard to remove as life itself.
Usage Notes
Commonly used in informal contexts to describe resistance to change. Often paired with 'old' (e.g., 'old habits die hard') to emphasize long-standing nature.
Word Breakdown
die
to cease living or persist strongly
verbhard
firmly or strongly
adverbEnglish Dictionary