Definition of albatross

albatrossnoun

chim hải âu

/ˈælbətrɒs//ˈælbətrɑːs/

The origin of the word "albatross" dates back to the 17th century. It comes from the Middle French word "albatros", which was derived from the Italian "albatro", meaning "large seafowl". The term originally referred to a type of large seabird, specifically the Diomedea genus of albatrosses, which are found in the Southern Ocean. However, the term gained popularity in literature and poetry due to Samuel Taylor Coleridge's 1798 poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner", where an albatross is a symbol of good luck and protection to the sailors on a ship. Over time, the term "albatross" took on a metaphorical meaning, symbolizing a burden or a curse that is difficult to get rid of, often referred to as "an albatross around one's neck".

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a very large white bird with long wings that lives in the Pacific and Southern Oceans

một loài chim trắng rất lớn có đôi cánh dài sống ở Thái Bình Dương và Nam Đại Dương

a thing that causes problems or prevents you from doing something

một thứ gây ra vấn đề hoặc ngăn cản bạn làm điều gì đó

Example:
  • The national debt is an albatross around the president’s neck.

    Nợ quốc gia giống như gánh nặng đè lên cổ tổng thống.

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