Definition
Of a living being, to die only after a desperate struggle for life.
Of a custom, idea, etc. to be slow in changing or disappearing.
In Context
- "Already, however, in this earliest phase, new types cease to be invented; technical skill lingers on and dies hard, but inspiration has gone."
- "In Scotland, though, some of the Caledonian products have died hard. They were mostly good straightforward engines."
- "Another incentive to Glaswegians to make full use of their new facilities is that road-rail competition has died hard in this area and the prevailing fare levels, even though rail rates were recently increased, are somewhat low by standards elsewhere in Britain—[...]."
See Also
- you can't teach an old dog new tricks