Albatross Around My Neck
Meaning
The phrase “Albatross around my neck” is often used to describe a heavy burden that is difficult to escape, especially something from the past that continues to cause problems, guilt, embarrassment, or regret.
The expression comes from Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, in which a sailor is forced to wear a dead albatross around his neck as punishment.
Today, the phrase is usually figurative. The “albatross” might be a bad decision, a failed project, debt, a mistake, or an unpleasant responsibility that keeps weighing someone down.
Usage
The phrase is generally used for something that feels like a persistent burden or obstacle. It can describe a personal regret, a difficult situation, or even something that was once useful or valuable but has become a liability.
It is commonly phrased as “an albatross around my neck,” “an albatross around his neck,” or simply “an albatross around their neck.” The expression has a serious tone, although it can sometimes be used humorously for a relatively minor burden.
Example Sentences
- That failed business has become an albatross around his neck, and he still hasn’t recovered financially.
- For years, the old debt felt like an albatross around my neck.
- The controversial decision became an albatross around the politician’s neck during the campaign.
- What started as a small mistake turned into an albatross around her neck.
- He joked that his enormous collection of unused equipment was becoming an albatross around his neck.