A dog wipes out during the Surf City Surf Dog contest in Huntington Beach. Photo: Lucy Nicholson/Reuters
Today's Phrase
The idiom "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" means that it is difficult to get someone to change their habits, especially if they have been doing something for a long time.
For example:
I bought my mother a smartphone, but she prefers her other one, which is over ten years old! Oh well, you can't teach an old dog new tricks.
My friend keeps telling me that I should stop smoking, but there's no chance – you can't teach an old dog new tricks!
Everyone keeps telling me that I am too stressed and should work less, but I have always been the same. You can't teach an old dog new tricks!
Don't confuse it with
If something has gone to the dogs, its quality has deteriorated.
Let's avoid that bar, it's really gone to the dogs since the management changed.
All of the shops in the town are boarded up. It's really gone to the dogs.
Interesting fact
The Surf City Surf Dog competition is held annually on Huntingdon Beach, California, and attracts many pet owners, who are keen to show off their talented canines. This year's competition included a World Record attempt to get twenty dogs to ride the same wave for at least five seconds. Unfortunately, the dogs were unsuccessful.
