albatross
A large seabird with very long wings found mainly in the Southern Ocean; figuratively, it refers to a heavy burden or a psychological weight that prevents success or causes constant worry. This metaphorical usage is common in business and politics to describe a persistent problem or liability.
Ejemplos
3 de 5The sailors watched as a majestic albatross glided silently above the ship's mast.
The sailors watched as a majestic albatross glided silently above the ship's mast.
The massive pension deficit has become a financial albatross for the struggling corporation.
The massive pension deficit has become a financial albatross for the struggling corporation.
I need to sell this old house; it's becoming a bit of an albatross because of the maintenance costs.
I need to sell this old house; it's becoming a bit of an albatross because of the maintenance costs.
Familia de palabras
Truco para recordar
Think of the 'A' in Albatross as an 'Anchor.' Both are heavy things that can be tied to you and prevent you from moving forward.
Quiz rápido
The failed project became an ___ around the department's neck, draining all their resources for years.
¡Correcto!
La respuesta correcta es: albatross
Ejemplos
The sailors watched as a majestic albatross glided silently above the ship's mast.
everydayThe sailors watched as a majestic albatross glided silently above the ship's mast.
The massive pension deficit has become a financial albatross for the struggling corporation.
formalThe massive pension deficit has become a financial albatross for the struggling corporation.
I need to sell this old house; it's becoming a bit of an albatross because of the maintenance costs.
informalI need to sell this old house; it's becoming a bit of an albatross because of the maintenance costs.
Coleridge uses the albatross as a complex symbol of both nature's innocence and the weight of human guilt.
academicColeridge uses the albatross as a complex symbol of both nature's innocence and the weight of human guilt.
The unsuccessful acquisition proved to be an albatross around the CEO's neck during the board meeting.
businessThe unsuccessful acquisition proved to be an albatross around the CEO's neck during the board meeting.
Familia de palabras
Colocaciones comunes
Frases Comunes
albatross around the neck
a persistent burden or psychological weight
to kill the albatross
to commit an act that brings bad luck or deep guilt
a corporate albatross
a failing department or debt within a company
Se confunde a menudo con
An albatross is much larger and lives in the open ocean, whereas seagulls are smaller and common near coasts.
Both mean a burden, but an albatross specifically implies a burden resulting from a past mistake or bad luck.
Notas de uso
Use 'albatross' when you want to emphasize that a problem is not just a nuisance, but a significant, long-term weight that hampers progress. It is most frequently used in the idiom 'an albatross around one's neck.'
Errores comunes
Learners often use 'albatross' only to refer to the bird, missing its common metaphorical use in professional or literary English. Note that it is almost always used as a noun, never a verb.
Truco para recordar
Think of the 'A' in Albatross as an 'Anchor.' Both are heavy things that can be tied to you and prevent you from moving forward.
Origen de la palabra
Originally from the Portuguese 'alcatraz' (meaning pelican or gannet), derived from the Arabic 'al-ghattas' (the diver).
Patrones gramaticales
Contexto cultural
The metaphorical meaning originates from Samuel Taylor Coleridge's 1798 poem 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,' in which a sailor must wear a dead albatross around his neck as punishment for killing it.
Quiz rápido
The failed project became an ___ around the department's neck, draining all their resources for years.
¡Correcto!
La respuesta correcta es: albatross
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