Volver a las andadas

to go back to one's old ways; **to go back to one's old ways**; **to fall back into old habits**; **to relapse**; **to revert to one's old behaviour**; **to be back at it again**

Volver a las andadas means to fall back into old habits, to return to one's old ways, to relapse into previous behaviour, or to go back to doing what one used to do, especially when that behaviour is undesirable.

It usually carries a negative connotation.

• resumes a bad habit
• starts behaving badly again
• returns to previous mistakes
• relapses after improving
• repeats behaviour they had supposedly abandoned

The expression comes from the noun andadas, which originally referred to journeys, routes or habitual walks.

Over time, these "paths" became a metaphor for the habitual course of a person's behaviour.

To volver a las andadas therefore meant returning to one's former pattern of conduct, especially after an attempt to change.

The expression is most often used negatively.

It frequently appears when talking about:

• addictions;
• criminal behaviour;
• unhealthy habits;
• troublesome relationships;
• or repeated personal mistakes.

However, it can occasionally be used humorously for harmless habits.

Spanish has several expressions describing a return to previous behaviour:

• Volver a las andadas → to go back to one's old ways.
• Recaer → to relapse.
• Caer otra vez en lo mismo → to fall into the same pattern again.
• Tropezar dos veces con la misma piedra → to make the same mistake twice.

Among them, volver a las andadas is the most versatile because it can refer to everything from serious relapses to everyday habits that someone simply cannot seem to abandon.

Do not translate the expression literally.

English speakers would never say:

He's returned to his old wanderings.

Instead, use expressions such as:

• He's gone back to his old ways.
• She's fallen back into old habits.
• He relapsed.
• They're back at it again.

Choose the translation according to the seriousness of the situation.