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.
例文
3 / 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.
語族
覚え方のコツ
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.
クイックテスト
The failed project became an ___ around the department's neck, draining all their resources for years.
正解！
正解は： albatross
例文
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.
語族
よく使う組み合わせ
よく使うフレーズ
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
よく混同される語
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.
使い方のコツ
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.'
よくある間違い
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.
覚え方のコツ
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.
語源
Originally from the Portuguese 'alcatraz' (meaning pelican or gannet), derived from the Arabic 'al-ghattas' (the diver).
文法パターン
文化的な背景
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.
クイックテスト
The failed project became an ___ around the department's neck, draining all their resources for years.
正解！
正解は： albatross
関連単語
arbiter
B2An arbiter is a person or authority who has the power to settle a dispute or decide what is right, acceptable, or fashionable. It can refer to a formal legal role or a metaphorical judge of cultural and social standards.
arbitrarily
C2To act in a way that is based on random choice or personal whim rather than any reason or system. It often implies a decision-making process that is perceived as unfair or lacking logical justification.
arbitrariness
C1The quality of being based on random choice or personal whim rather than any reason, system, or logical necessity. It often describes decisions, rules, or actions that appear unfair or unpredictable because they lack a clear underlying principle.
arbitrator
C2A neutral third party officially appointed to settle a dispute between two conflicting parties outside of a court of law. Their role is to hear evidence from both sides and issue a final, typically legally binding, decision known as an award.
arboreal
B2Arboreal describes animals that live in trees or things relating to trees. It is most commonly used in biological contexts to distinguish tree-dwelling species from those that live on the ground or in water.
appreciate
B2To recognize the full worth or quality of something, or to be grateful for a gesture or action. It can also mean to understand a situation fully or to increase in value over time.
approbate
C1To formally or officially sanction, approve, or authorize an action, document, or status. It is typically used in legal, ecclesiastical, or high-level administrative contexts to indicate authoritative validation.
approve
C1Officially sanctioned or accepted as being of an adequate standard or satisfying certain requirements. It describes something that has received formal authorization or endorsement from a person or body in authority.
apropos
B2Something that is apropos is very appropriate or relevant to a particular situation or subject being discussed. It describes a remark, action, or timing that fits perfectly with the current circumstances.
arboretum
C1A botanical garden specifically devoted to the cultivation and exhibition of a wide variety of trees and shrubs for scientific or educational purposes. It serves as a living collection of woody plants, often featuring rare or non-native species.
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