2017-09-08 A leopard can’t change its spots – We Say, You Say

The Experiment is a collection of short series that are a little different to our usual programmes – but still help you improve your English.

Our first series, We say – You say, shows how YOUR language can help you remember English expressions.

We Say – You Say

We say…

In English we say a leopard can’t change its spots or a leopard doesn’t change its spots to mean someone won’t change. He or she will always be the same person and their bad habits are here to stay.

Examples:

I told Karen she had to study more if she wants to pass her exams but a leopard can’t change its spots – she won’t do it.

Freddie promised he wouldn’t get into trouble at school but I don’t believe him – a leopard can’t change its spots.

Sian
A leopard can’t change its spots means someone won’t change. They’ll always be the same person they’ve always been and they’ll always have the same bad habits.

Examples:

I told Karen she had to study more if she wants to pass her exams but a leopard can’t change its spots – she won’t do it.

Freddie promised he wouldn’t get into trouble at school but I don’t believe him – a leopard can’t change its spots.

How do YOU say it?

Jiaying
You say ‘a leopard can’t change its spots’ – in Chinese we say  江山易改，本性难移 which means, dynasties may come and go but a person’s nature doesn’t change.

Keehwan
So, a leopard can’t change its spots, well in Korean we have a similar phrase, we say -세살 버릇 여든까지 간다 and it basically means the habits of a three year old lasts until the age of 80 – and this basically means ‘a leopard can’t change its spots’.

William
‘A leopard doesn’t change its spots’ – well in Spanish we have a similar saying – Genio y figura hasta la sepultura – You carry your temper and personality to the grave.

Sian
So, those are a few examples of ‘a leopard can’t change its spots’ in other languages, what do you say?

You say…

In Chinese – 江山易改，本性难移 (Dynasties may come and go but a person’s nature doesn’t change)

In Korean – -세살 버릇 여든까지 간다 (The habits of a three year old lasts until the age of 80)

In Spanish – Genio y figura hasta la sepultura (You carry your temper and personality to the grave)