In everyday life across the USA, people often use fun and colorful expressions to talk about things we do again and again. These sayings, called idioms, make it easier to describe daily routines, good or bad behaviors, and how often something happens. Whether it’s biting your nails when you’re nervous or always being early, there’s probably an idiom for it.
This article will explore popular idioms about habits that Americans use in real conversations. These phrases help bring life to our words and can make even simple habits sound interesting. Let’s take a look at some you may have heard—and maybe even used—without realizing what they really mean.
Idioms About Habits
1. Creature of habit
Meaning: A person who likes to do the same things in the same way every time.
Example Sentence:
• My grandpa eats the same breakfast every day. He’s a creature of habit.
• Lisa watches the same show every night before bed. She’s a creature of habit.
Other ways to say: Set in their ways, follows a routine
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom has been used in America since the 1800s to describe people who follow routines.
Usage: Often said about someone who sticks to a routine.
2. Old habits die hard
Meaning: It’s hard to stop doing things you’ve done for a long time.
Example Sentence:
• He still bites his nails. Old habits die hard.
• She checks her phone every five minutes—old habits die hard.
Other ways to say: Hard to break a habit, stuck in their ways
Fun Fact/Origin: This saying is used across the USA to describe behaviors people can’t easily stop.
Usage: Used when someone keeps doing something they’ve done for a long time.
3. Break the habit
Meaning: To stop doing something you do regularly.
Example Sentence:
• I’m trying to break the habit of snacking late at night.
• She wants to break the habit of leaving homework until the last minute.
Other ways to say: Quit, stop doing it
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used in health campaigns in the USA to stop smoking or nail biting.
Usage: Used when someone wants to stop a regular behavior.
4. Fall into a routine
Meaning: To begin doing the same things regularly.
Example Sentence:
• After the school year started, I fell into a routine.
• They quickly fell into a routine after moving to their new home.
Other ways to say: Settle in, get used to
Fun Fact/Origin: Used in both home life and work life in the USA.
Usage: Said when someone gets used to a new daily pattern.
5. Pick up a habit
Meaning: To start doing something regularly.
Example Sentence:
• He picked up the habit of reading before bed.
• She picked up a bad habit of chewing gum in class.
Other ways to say: Start a routine, begin doing
Fun Fact/Origin: Commonly used to talk about both good and bad habits.
Usage: Used when someone starts a new habit.
6. Make a habit of it
Meaning: To do something so often it becomes part of your regular behavior.
Example Sentence:
• I made a habit of brushing my teeth right after dinner.
• Don’t make a habit of staying up late.
Other ways to say: Get used to, keep doing
Fun Fact/Origin: Used by parents and teachers to remind kids about good routines.
Usage: Can be used as advice or a warning.
7. Kick the habit
Meaning: To stop doing something that’s hard to quit, often something unhealthy.
Example Sentence:
• He’s trying to kick the habit of drinking soda every day.
• She finally kicked the habit of smoking.
Other ways to say: Stop, quit
Fun Fact/Origin: Popular in health and recovery language in the USA.
Usage: Often used when stopping something unhealthy.
8. Get into the habit
Meaning: To start doing something regularly.
Example Sentence:
• I got into the habit of writing in my journal every morning.
• She got into the habit of waking up early.
Other ways to say: Start doing, develop a routine
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used in schools to promote good study habits.
Usage: Used to talk about forming good routines.
9. In the habit of
Meaning: To usually do something.
Example Sentence:
• He’s in the habit of calling his grandma every Sunday.
• I’m in the habit of making my bed each morning.
Other ways to say: Usually does, often does
Fun Fact/Origin: Widely used in American English when talking about common routines.
Usage: Describes something someone does often.
10. Force of habit
Meaning: Doing something automatically because you’re used to it.
Example Sentence:
• I reached for my old phone out of force of habit.
• She went to school on Saturday by force of habit.
Other ways to say: Without thinking, automatic
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom points to how strong habits can guide actions.
Usage: Used when someone does something without meaning to.
11. Habit-forming
Meaning: Something that makes you want to keep doing it.
Example Sentence:
• Video games can be habit-forming for some kids.
• This snack is so good, it’s habit-forming.
Other ways to say: Addictive, hard to stop
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used in the USA on warning labels for medicine or snacks.
Usage: Used for things that are enjoyable but hard to stop.
12. Hard habit to break
Meaning: A routine or behavior that’s difficult to stop.
Example Sentence:
• Biting your nails is a hard habit to break.
• Staying up late is a hard habit to break.
Other ways to say: Tough to quit, stuck behavior
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used in health and behavior classes in the USA.
Usage: Common in both casual and serious talk.
13. Out of habit
Meaning: Doing something without thinking, just because you always do it.
Example Sentence:
• I grabbed my backpack out of habit, even though it was Saturday.
• She opened the fridge out of habit.
Other ways to say: Automatically, by routine
Fun Fact/Origin: Used across all age groups in the USA.
Usage: Describes automatic actions.
14. Creature comforts
Meaning: Small habits or items that make you feel cozy and happy.
Example Sentence:
• He needs his morning coffee—one of his creature comforts.
• Her favorite blanket is one of her creature comforts.
Other ways to say: Comfort items, cozy things
Fun Fact/Origin: Dates back to early America to describe small pleasures.
Usage: Used for habits that bring comfort.
15. Habit of mind
Meaning: A regular way of thinking or learning.
Example Sentence:
• She has a habit of mind that helps her solve problems.
• Being curious is a great habit of mind.
Other ways to say: Way of thinking, mindset
Fun Fact/Origin: Used in U.S. education to build positive thinking skills.
Usage: Common in learning settings.
16. Stick to the routine
Meaning: To keep doing things the same way.
Example Sentence:
• If I stick to my routine, I get more done.
• He sticks to his routine every morning.
Other ways to say: Keep the schedule, follow the plan
Fun Fact/Origin: Used in school and home life in the USA.
Usage: Often used for time management.
17. In a rut
Meaning: Doing the same thing so much that it feels boring.
Example Sentence:
• Eating the same lunch every day puts me in a rut.
• She felt like she was in a rut with her job.
Other ways to say: Bored with routine, stuck in habits
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from wagon tracks or “ruts” that are hard to get out of.
Usage: Often said when someone wants change.
18. Fall back on
Meaning: To return to a habit or choice when unsure.
Example Sentence:
• When stressed, he falls back on old habits.
• I fall back on pizza when I don’t want to cook.
Other ways to say: Return to, rely on
Fun Fact/Origin: Common in both family and business language in the USA.
Usage: Used for habits we turn to in tough times.
19. Set in one’s ways
Meaning: Unwilling to change habits.
Example Sentence:
• My uncle is set in his ways and won’t try new food.
• Grandma is set in her ways about bedtime.
Other ways to say: Fixed behavior, doesn’t change
Fun Fact/Origin: Popular when describing older adults in the USA.
Usage: Used when people stick to the same habits.
20. Slip back into
Meaning: To return to a habit you stopped before.
Example Sentence:
• He slipped back into the habit of skipping breakfast.
• She slipped back into staying up too late.
Other ways to say: Go back to, return to
Fun Fact/Origin: Common in health and behavior programs.
Usage: Describes a return to an old habit.
21. Make it second nature
Meaning: To practice something until it feels natural.
Example Sentence:
• Brushing teeth is second nature to me now.
• Typing became second nature after months of practice.
Other ways to say: Automatic, no need to think
Fun Fact/Origin: Common in American sports and learning settings.
Usage: Used when habits become easy.
22. Stick with it
Meaning: To keep doing something and not quit.
Example Sentence:
• If you stick with the habit, it’ll get easier.
• She stuck with her habit of exercising daily.
Other ways to say: Keep going, don’t quit
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used by coaches and teachers in the USA.
Usage: Encouraging phrases for new habits.
23. Set a pattern
Meaning: To create a routine that gets repeated.
Example Sentence:
• He set a pattern of going to bed at 9 PM.
• She set a pattern of walking after dinner.
Other ways to say: Make a routine, build a habit
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used in family and school discussions.
Usage: Describes how habits form.
24. Get stuck in a loop
Meaning: To repeat the same actions again and again.
Example Sentence:
• I get stuck in a loop of checking my phone.
• She gets stuck in a loop of skipping chores.
Other ways to say: Repeat endlessly, can’t stop
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from computer programming but used in everyday life.
Usage: Common when habits are annoying or unhelpful.
25. Stuck in a habit
Meaning: Unable to stop doing something.
Example Sentence:
• He’s stuck in the habit of interrupting others.
• She’s stuck in the habit of eating too fast.
Other ways to say: Trapped in routine, can’t stop
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used in behavior change talk.
Usage: Describes negative habits.
26. Mindless habit
Meaning: A habit done without thinking.
Example Sentence:
• He checks his watch out of a mindless habit.
• She taps her pencil by mindless habit.
Other ways to say: Automatic, without thinking
Fun Fact/Origin: Common in psychology and school settings.
Usage: Used when people don’t notice their habit.
27. Habit kicks in
Meaning: When you start doing a habit without thinking.
Example Sentence:
• My habit kicks in every time I sit at my desk—I start doodling.
• Her cleaning habit kicks in after dinner.
Other ways to say: Takes over, starts up
Fun Fact/Origin: Common in sports, school, and home life.
Usage: Used to describe habits that happen automatically.
28. Turn into a routine
Meaning: When a repeated action becomes part of daily life.
Example Sentence:
• Reading before bed turned into a routine.
• Doing chores on Saturday turned into a routine.
Other ways to say: Becomes a habit, gets repeated
Fun Fact/Origin: Used in family schedules in the USA.
Usage: Describes how small actions become daily habits.
29. Rely on habit
Meaning: To trust that a habit will help.
Example Sentence:
• I rely on habit to help me get ready fast in the morning.
• She relies on habit to stay focused in class.
Other ways to say: Count on routine, trust the pattern
Fun Fact/Origin: Used often by American teachers and workers.
Usage: Positive way to describe good routines.
30. Set the tone
Meaning: To create a habit that influences how things go.
Example Sentence:
• Waking up early sets the tone for my day.
• A smile in the morning sets the tone for a good mood.
Other ways to say: Start off right, begin well
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used in leadership and teaching.
Usage: Habit that starts something positive.
31. Habit builds over time
Meaning: Habits grow stronger the more you do them.
Example Sentence:
• My reading habit built over time with practice.
• Her kindness habit built over time.
Other ways to say: Grows with time, increases
Fun Fact/Origin: Taught in many U.S. schools to encourage good behavior.
Usage: Used to explain how habits grow.
32. Let it become habit
Meaning: Allow something to become part of your regular behavior.
Example Sentence:
• Let writing in your notebook become a habit.
• Don’t let skipping class become a habit.
Other ways to say: Turn into routine, make it normal
Fun Fact/Origin: Used in both warnings and encouragement.
Usage: Shows how easy it is for behavior to turn into a habit.
33. It’s second nature now
Meaning: You do it without needing to think about it.
Example Sentence:
• Turning off the lights is second nature now.
• Washing hands after school is second nature now.
Other ways to say: Feels normal, happens naturally
Fun Fact/Origin: Common across American classrooms and homes.
Usage: Shows a habit has become automatic.
34. Habit sneaks in
Meaning: A habit starts without you realizing it.
Example Sentence:
• Staying up late sneaked in during summer break.
• The habit of checking my phone sneaked in last year.
Other ways to say: Slides in, shows up quietly
Fun Fact/Origin: Popular among parents talking about screen time.
Usage: Used to describe unnoticed habits.
35. Repeat the cycle
Meaning: To keep doing the same habit again and again.
Example Sentence:
• I repeat the cycle of late nights and tired mornings.
• She repeats the cycle of skipping breakfast.
Other ways to say: Keep doing the same thing, fall into the same pattern
Fun Fact/Origin: Often used when trying to break bad habits.
Usage: Describes repeating habits that are hard to change.
Quiz: Idioms About Habits
Instructions: Choose the best answer for each question. Each question is based on the idioms about habits explained earlier. Try to think about what each idiom really means.
Question Key
1. What does “creature of habit” mean?
A) Someone who loves animals
B) Someone who always changes their routine
C) Someone who does things the same way each time
2. If someone says “old habits die hard,” what does it mean?
A) It’s easy to forget habits
B) Bad habits are fun
C) It’s hard to stop doing something you’ve done for a long time
3. What does “break the habit” mean?
A) Start a new routine
B) Stop doing something you do often
C) Repeat the same routine
4. If you “fall into a routine,” what are you doing?
A) Creating a fun game
B) Doing something random
C) Getting used to doing the same things regularly
5. What does “kick the habit” usually mean?
A) Play a sport
B) Quit something that’s hard to stop
C) Buy something new
6. “Out of habit” means:
A) You choose something on purpose
B) You do something without thinking
C) You forgot your habit
7. If someone is “set in their ways,” what does that mean?
A) They like to try new things
B) They don’t like changing their habits
C) They travel often
8. What does “make it second nature” mean?
A) You’re thinking hard about it
B) You forget how to do it
C) You do something automatically, without thinking
9. If something is “habit-forming,” what does it mean?
A) You want to keep doing it
B) You forget about it easily
C) It happens once
10. What does “slip back into” a habit mean?
A) You never did it before
B) You return to an old habit
C) You try something new
11. If a person “gets stuck in a loop,” what are they doing?
A) They stop trying
B) They are repeating the same thing again and again
C) They finish everything fast
12. What does it mean if your habit “kicks in”?
A) You forget your habit
B) Your habit starts without you trying
C) You stop your routine
13. If someone says “don’t let it become a habit,” what are they warning about?
A) Don’t forget your books
B) Don’t do something fun
C) Be careful not to do something too often
Answer Key
- C) Someone who does things the same way each time
- C) It’s hard to stop doing something you’ve done for a long time
- B) Stop doing something you do often
- C) Getting used to doing the same things regularly
- B) Quit something that’s hard to stop
- B) You do something without thinking
- B) They don’t like changing their habits
- C) You do something automatically, without thinking
- A) You want to keep doing it
- B) You return to an old habit
- B) They are repeating the same thing again and again
- B) Your habit starts without you trying
- C) Be careful not to do something too often
Wrapping Up
Idioms about habits help us describe our routines in simple and interesting ways. In the USA, people often use these phrases when talking about daily life, school, or even how they handle stress. They make our language easier to understand and more fun to use.
By learning these idioms, you can explain your behavior more clearly and connect better with others. So next time you catch yourself doing something out of habit, try using one of these phrases—you might surprise someone with how well you know everyday American English.
