albatross round someone's neck
albatross (a)round (one's) neck
A heavy burden that prevents one from achieving success. The phrase refers to Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, in which the narrator kills an albatross—a large white bird deemed an omen of good fortune. This act is thought to curse his ship, so he must then wear the albatross around his neck. The old property became an albatross around his neck as the costs of repair and renovation began to skyrocket.
See also: albatross, neck
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
albatross round someone's neck
something that is burdensome to someone and hinders their progress, especially arising from some misdeed of their own in the past.From the albatross shot dead by the sailor in Coleridge 's poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner ( 1798 ), which brought his ship bad luck. The bird was hung round his neck as a sign of his guilt.
2000 Sunday Herald Being the offspring of a famous guy has become an albatross round the neck of many a budding young lion.
See also: albatross, neck, round
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
- albatross (a)round (one's) neck
- albatross around one's neck
- an albatross around your neck
- Tinker to Evers to Chance
- conscience does make cowards of us all
- sadder and/but wiser
- no joy in Mudville
- a woman's work is never done
- take the road less traveled
- an ugly duckling