can the leopard change his spots?

can the leopard change his spots?
может ли человек изменить свою природу? [букв. может ли барс переменить пятна свои?; этим. библ. Jeremiah XIII, 23]; см. тж. change one's spots

He seemed to have settled down now, and to be devoted to his wife and children; but can the leopard change his spots? It was only too probable that Lady Hardy had more to put up with than anyone suspected. (W. S. Maugham, ‘Complete Short Stories’, ‘The Lion's Skin’) — Казалось, что Фред Гарди остепенился и стал преданным отцом и супругом, но может ли барс переменить пятна свои? Весьма вероятно, что леди Гарди приходилось терпеть гораздо больше, чем можно было заподозрить со стороны.


Большой англо-русский фразеологический словарь. - М.: «Русский язык-Медиа».. 2006.

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Смотреть что такое "can the leopard change his spots?" в других словарях:

  • the leopard does not change his spots — With allusion to JEREMIAH xiii. 23 (AV) Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? A L. equivalent to this proverb is lupus pilum mutat, non mentem, the wolf changes his coat, not his nature. 1546 J. BALE First Examination of… …   Proverbs new dictionary

  • change your spots — Meaning Origin From the Bible. Jeremiah 13:23. Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil …   Meaning and origin of phrases

  • a leopard cannot change its spots — Meaning The notion that things cannot change their inate nature. Origin From the Bible. Jeremiah 13:23. Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil …   Meaning and origin of phrases

  • change — vb Change, alter, vary, modify (and their corresponding nouns change, alteration, variation, modification) are comparable when denoting to make or become different (or when denoting a difference effected). Change and alter are sometimes… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • leopard — ► NOUN 1) (fem. leopardess) a large solitary cat that has a fawn or brown coat with black spots, found in the forests of Africa and southern Asia. 2) (before another noun ) spotted like a leopard. ● a leopard can t change his spots Cf. ↑a leopard …   English terms dictionary

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