Force of habit
noun phrase
When you do something automatically, without thinking, because it's a routine you've done frequently before.
Even though I had moved house, for a couple of weeks I found myself still driving towards my old address every day after work. I guess it was just force of habit.
Often appears as...
- break the force of habit
- succumb to the force of habit
Usage tips
Idiomatic
noun phrase
When you do something automatically, without thinking, because it's a routine you've done frequently before.
Even though I had moved house, for a couple of weeks I found myself still driving towards my old address every day after work. I guess it was just force of habit.
Often appears as...
- break the force of habit
- succumb to the force of habit
Usage tips
Idiomatic
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Unconscious Action
The phrase often refers to actions done without conscious thought, as if on autopilot.
She found herself checking the mailbox every day out of force of habit, even though it was Sunday.
Pro Tip 2/3Change Resistance
'Force of habit' illustrates the difficulty people face when trying to change a long-standing routine.
He kept reaching for the light switch that was no longer there, a force of habit hard to break.
Pro Tip 3/3Inadvertent Errors
The phrase may be used to explain mistakes made because someone defaulted to a habitual action.
Typed my old password out of force of habit and got locked out of my account.
Pro Tip 1/3Unconscious Action
The phrase often refers to actions done without conscious thought, as if on autopilot.
She found herself checking the mailbox every day out of force of habit, even though it was Sunday.
Pro Tip 2/3Change Resistance
'Force of habit' illustrates the difficulty people face when trying to change a long-standing routine.
He kept reaching for the light switch that was no longer there, a force of habit hard to break.
Pro Tip 3/3Inadvertent Errors
The phrase may be used to explain mistakes made because someone defaulted to a habitual action.
Typed my old password out of force of habit and got locked out of my account.
Pro Tip 1/3Unconscious Action
The phrase often refers to actions done without conscious thought, as if on autopilot.
She found herself checking the mailbox every day out of force of habit, even though it was Sunday.
Pro Tip 2/3Change Resistance
'Force of habit' illustrates the difficulty people face when trying to change a long-standing routine.
He kept reaching for the light switch that was no longer there, a force of habit hard to break.
Pro Tip 3/3Inadvertent Errors
The phrase may be used to explain mistakes made because someone defaulted to a habitual action.
Typed my old password out of force of habit and got locked out of my account.
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