Meaning of albatross around one's neck | Babel Free

Definitions

A characteristic, possession, associate, or previous deed that hinders one's ability to succeed.

figuratively, idiomatic

Equivalents

Examples

“He bought the properties last year hoping to make a profit by reselling them; however, with the economic downturn, they have become an albatross around his neck.”

“Less attention was paid to the albatross that Bain, KKR, and Vornado had placed around the company’s neck. Toys “R” Us had a debt load of $1.86 billion before it was bought out.”

““Marine wants to be French president, and her chance are pretty good for 2027,” said one former senior AfD official. “Why would she want a bunch of German neo-Nazis like an albatross round her neck?””

CEFR level