English Idioms and Expressions 

Idioms: Habits
from:  'by force of habit'  to: 'slippery slope'

• by force of habit
  • If you do something by force of habit, you continue to do something that you've been doing repeatedly or regularly for a long time.
    "Even though I’ve retired, I still get up at 7 am by force of habit."
    
    
• break, kick, knock or drop a habit
  • If you break, kick, knock or drop a habit, you give up a habit or something to which you are addicted.
    "He’s been smoking for so long, it will be hard for him to break the habit."
    
    
• creature of habit
  • A creature of habit is someone who always prefers to do the same things in the same way.
    "I’m a creature of habit. I don’t like strange food and I eat at regular times."
    
    
• drop like a bad habit
  • If you drop someone like a bad habit, you end a relationship or cut off ties with someone.
    (When you drop a habit, you put an end to something you don’t want to do any longer.)
    "If you deliver late again, we will drop you like a bad habit!"
    
    
• get into the habit/make a habit (of something)
  • If you get into the habit of doing something, or make a habit of it, you do it in a regular or repeated way.
    "I got into the habit of walking everywhere. I rarely use the car now."
    
    
• habit is second nature
  • When something is done repetitively and often, and requires little or no effort or thought, it is said to have become second nature to you.
    "Hunting for the best bargain is a habit that has become second nature to Sally!"
    
    
• nip something in the bud (before it becomes a habit)
  • If you nip something in the bud, such as a dangerous or unadvisable activity, you stop it at an early stage before it develops into a habit.
    "He started gambling with his friends, but his parents soon nipped that pastime in the bud."
    
    
• old (or bad) habits die hard
  • Old or bad habits, something done over and over again over a long period of time, are especially difficult to change or give up.
    "Dad still uses an alarm clock instead of his phone. Old habits die hard!"
    
    
• (be on a) slippery slope
  • Someone who is on a slippery slope is in a dangerous situation or has developed a habit that is hard to stop or control once it has begun.
    "He's drinking too much these days. He's on a slippery slope!"