B2 verb 中性

albatross

/ˈælbətrɒs/

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.

例句

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1

The 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.

2

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.

3

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.

词族

名词
albatross
相关
seabird
💡

记忆技巧

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.

快速测验

The failed project became an ___ around the department's neck, draining all their resources for years.

正确!

正确答案是: albatross

例句

1

The sailors watched as a majestic albatross glided silently above the ship's mast.

everyday

The sailors watched as a majestic albatross glided silently above the ship's mast.

2

The massive pension deficit has become a financial albatross for the struggling corporation.

formal

The massive pension deficit has become a financial albatross for the struggling corporation.

3

I need to sell this old house; it's becoming a bit of an albatross because of the maintenance costs.

informal

I need to sell this old house; it's becoming a bit of an albatross because of the maintenance costs.

4

Coleridge uses the albatross as a complex symbol of both nature's innocence and the weight of human guilt.

academic

Coleridge uses the albatross as a complex symbol of both nature's innocence and the weight of human guilt.

5

The unsuccessful acquisition proved to be an albatross around the CEO's neck during the board meeting.

business

The unsuccessful acquisition proved to be an albatross around the CEO's neck during the board meeting.

词族

名词
albatross
相关
seabird

常见搭配

an albatross around one's neck a heavy burden that is difficult to get rid of
financial albatross a debt or expense that causes constant trouble
political albatross a policy or scandal that ruins a politician's reputation
become an albatross to start being a major problem or liability
shed the albatross to free oneself from a burdensome situation

常用短语

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

容易混淆的词

albatross vs seagull

An albatross is much larger and lives in the open ocean, whereas seagulls are smaller and common near coasts.

albatross vs millstone

Both mean a burden, but an albatross specifically implies a burden resulting from a past mistake or bad luck.

📝

使用说明

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.'

⚠️

常见错误

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.

💡

记忆技巧

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.

📖

词源

Originally from the Portuguese 'alcatraz' (meaning pelican or gannet), derived from the Arabic 'al-ghattas' (the diver).

语法模式

countable noun plural: albatrosses often follows the pattern 'an albatross around [someone's] neck'
🌍

文化背景

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.

快速测验

The failed project became an ___ around the department's neck, draining all their resources for years.

正确!

正确答案是: albatross

相关词

anteruptism

C1

Describing the specific state, conditions, or period occurring immediately before a sudden rupture, eruption, or systemic failure. It is used to characterize the buildup of tension and the identifiable indicators that precede a significant disruption.

synputity

C1

Synputity refers to the state or quality of synthesized inputs being perfectly integrated and pure, resulting in a seamless and uncorrupted whole. It is often used in technical or philosophical contexts to describe the ideal blending of diverse data or elements into a single, cohesive entity.

extramercent

C1

A noun referring to a secondary or non-standard commercial transaction, typically one that occurs outside of regulated primary markets. In a test-prep context, it describes an ancillary payment or exchange used to facilitate trade in niche or informal economic sectors.

ultrasignless

C1

Describes something that is completely devoid of any identifying marks, symbols, or signals, often to an extreme or absolute degree. It refers to a state of total anonymity or lack of distinctive characteristics in a physical or semiotic sense.

inlocness

C1

To precisely identify, fix, or anchor an object or concept within its specific geographic or systemic location. It describes the active process of mapping or assigning a permanent place to something within a predefined framework.

devestation

C1

Devastation refers to widespread and severe destruction or damage to a place or object. It can also describe the state of extreme emotional shock, grief, or overwhelm felt by a person.

intranavize

C1

The systemic process or framework of internal navigation within a complex, closed-circuit digital environment or architectural structure. It refers specifically to the methodology used to move between non-public nodes or data points in a secure system.

exgenent

C1

Requiring immediate action or attention; pressing or demanding. It is often used to describe urgent circumstances or a person who is extremely demanding and exacting.

adpelent

C1

A technical or pseudo-word often appearing in lexical proficiency tests, referring to an agent or substance designed to drive away or repel unwanted elements. It follows Latin morphological patterns but is not found in standard modern English dictionaries, serving primarily as a distractor in linguistic assessments.

propassward

C1

A high-security, professional-grade authentication credential used primarily in digital proctoring and secure certification systems. It functions as an advanced passphrase that often integrates multi-factor verification to ensure the identity of a user during high-stakes testing or sensitive data access.

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