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.
예시
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.
어휘 가족
암기 팁
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.
빠른 퀴즈
The failed project became an ___ around the department's neck, draining all their resources for years.
정답!
정답은: albatross
예시
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.
어휘 가족
자주 쓰는 조합
자주 쓰는 구문
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
자주 혼동되는 단어
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.
사용 참고사항
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.'
자주 하는 실수
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.
암기 팁
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.
어원
Originally from the Portuguese 'alcatraz' (meaning pelican or gannet), derived from the Arabic 'al-ghattas' (the diver).
문법 패턴
문화적 맥락
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.
빠른 퀴즈
The failed project became an ___ around the department's neck, draining all their resources for years.
정답!
정답은: albatross
관련 단어
pale
A1Describes something that has very little color or is much lighter than usual. It is often used to describe a person's face when they are ill or a color that is mixed with a lot of white.
lung
A1The lungs are two organs inside your chest that you use to breathe. They bring oxygen into your body and remove carbon dioxide when you breathe out.
tropical
A1Relating to the hot regions of the Earth near the equator. It describes weather that is very warm and wet, or plants and animals that come from these areas.
trader
A1A trader is a person whose job is to buy and sell goods, stocks, or other items for profit. They can work in a small local market or on large international financial exchanges.
indoor
A1Describes something that is located, happens, or is used inside a building rather than outside. It is an adjective used before a noun to talk about activities or objects protected from the weather.
threshold
A1A threshold is the physical area at the bottom of a doorway that you step over to enter a room or building. It also refers to the level or point at which something starts to happen or changes.
tribute
A1A tribute is something that you say, do, or give to show your respect and admiration for someone. It is often a public act used to honor a person's life, work, or memory.
elder
A1Used to describe a person who is older than another, especially within a family. It is also used to refer to people who have a high status or more experience because of their age.
russian
A1Relating to Russia, its people, its language, or its culture. It describes things that come from or are connected to the largest country in the world.
southeastern
A1Located in or coming from the direction between south and east. It describes a place, a region, or a wind that is in the corner between the bottom and the right on a map.
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