nature of the beast

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nature of the beast

1. (idiomatic, with "the") The unchangeable nature of something.
   • 1863, Sheridan Le Fanu, The House by the Churchyard:

     This slight way of treating both his book and his ancestors nettled little Puddock – who never himself took a liberty, and expected similar treatment – but he knew Sturk, the nature of the beast, and he only bowed grandly […]

   • 1884, Frank de Yeaux Carpenter, Round About Rio:

     "A little slow, that's all; but that's the nature of the beast."

• different animal (different beast)