
The leopard cannot change his spots.豹子不可能改变他的斑纹。
这条谚语有时也可用反问句:Can the leopard change his spots?his也可写作its,但既是用来比喻人的,用his更好一点。
本谚语出自《圣经·旧约》,意思是要使坏人变好是很困难的。豹子的斑纹确是不可能改变的,但人的性格只能说难改,不是不能改。这样的比喻只是极言其难改而已。
还有许多用其他比喻来说明这意思的:
The wolf may lose his teeth, but never his nature.
狼牙会掉,狼性难改。
The fox may grow grey, but never good.
狐狸只会变灰,不会变好。
A crow is never the whiter for washing herself often.
乌鸦即使经常洗澡,也不会变白。
You cannot make a crab walk straight.
不可能改变蟹的横行习惯。
豹子、狼、狐狸、乌鸦、蟹,都给人坏印象,所以以上谚语一般用于坏人坏事。
不一定指坏本质的中性谚语,可参阅What is bred in the bone will come out of the flesh.

