INDEX:
1. something that you do very often without thinking
2. when someone does something because it is a habit
RELATED WORDS
see also
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↑ OFTEN
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1. something that you do very often without thinking
▷ habit /ˈhæbɪt, ˈhæbət/ [countable noun]
something that you do very often and without thinking about it, because you have done it so many times before :
▪ Peter had some pretty odd habits.
▪ Patterns of behaviour develop gradually until they become unconscious habits.
bad habit
▪ Don’t start smoking - it’s a very bad habit.
have a habit of doing something
▪ He has a really annoying habit of leaving his clothes all over the floor.
become a habit
▪ If you have one or two drinks each day, it soon becomes a habit.
be/get into the habit of doing something
▪ You ought to get into the habit of planning your work at the beginning of each week.
eating/dating/viewing etc habits
▪ People need to change their eating habits and include more fruit and vegetables in their diet.
▷ mannerism /ˈmænərɪz ə m/ [countable noun]
a way of speaking, or a small movement of your face or body, that is part of your usual behaviour, and that other people think is strange or funny :
▪ All the kids imitated Mr Pearce’s mannerisms.
▪ Before you go to an interview, ask yourself whether you have any irritating mannerisms such as saying ‘you know’ all the time.
▷ ways /weɪz/ [plural noun]
someone’s ways are their habits and their usual behaviour - use this especially when you think someone’s usual behaviour is slightly strange :
▪ Rosy had a warm easy-going personality, so she was good at tolerating other people’s ways and opinions.
▪ It was a small rural community, and its people felt deeply suspicious of foreigners and their strange ways.
2. when someone does something because it is a habit
▷ from habit/out of habit /frəm ˈhæbə̇t, aʊt əv ˈhæbə̇t/ [adverb]
if you do something from habit, you do it just because it is your habit to do it, not because you have deliberately decided to do it :
▪ Some people drink alcohol from habit, as much as from desire.
▪ Out of habit he continued to get up at six o'clock, even after he’d retired.
▷ force of habit /ˌfɔːʳs əv ˈhæbə̇t/ [noun phrase]
if you do something from force of habit, you do it because you had often done the same thing in the past and not for any other reason :
▪ ‘Why did you call her ‘Miss’? She’s ‘Mrs’ now, you know.’ ‘Sorry, force of habit.’
by/from/through/out of force of habit
▪ Most women apply the same old make-up year after year through force of habit.
▷ compulsive /kəmˈpʌlsɪv/ [adjective]
a compulsive activity or way of behaving is one that someone cannot stop himself or herself doing repeatedly, especially because they have a mental problem :
▪ Her problem is compulsive over-eating.
▪ compulsive hand-washing
compulsive liar/eater/gambler etc
▪ Compulsive shoppers often never even open the goods they buy.