albatross around one's neck
Inescapable personal burden
An albatross around one's neck is a burden of guilt or shame that one cannot escape.
The phrase comes from Coleridge's poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner," where a sailor who kills an albatross must wear the dead bird around his neck as punishment.
Now used for any persistent, weighty obligation or past mistake that haunts someone: That failed investment became an albatross around his neck for years.
- ColeridgeEnglish Romantic verse-maker
- ancient marinerElderly ocean voyager
- millstoneGrain-crushing circular stone
- ball and chainFetter limiting prisoner movement
- weight on shouldersFelt responsibility or stress
regret · moral lesson · sword of Damocles · encumbrance · cross to bear · mariner · shame · liability · redemption · affliction · monkey on one's back · stigma · remorse · curse · bad karma · dark cloud · eternal punishment · skeleton in the closet
albatross around one's neckblessing in disguise
Apparent misfortune yielding benefit
stroke of luck · lucky charm · guardian angel · rabbit's foot · four-leaf clover