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albatross around one's neck

albatross around one's neck {n. phr.}, {literary}

Guilt, the haunting past, an unforgettable problem.

Even though it was an accident, John's father's death has been an albatross around John's neck.

Compare: MONKEY ON ONE'S BACK.

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Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms

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monkey on one's back

[monkey on one's back] {n. phr.}, {informal} An unsolved or nagging problem. * /"My math course is a real monkey on my back," Jack complained./ Compare: [ALBATROSS AROUND ONE'S NECK], […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

neck and neck

[neck and neck] {adj. or adv.}, {informal} Equal or nearly equal in a race or contest; abreast; tied. * /At the end of the race the two horses were neck […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

neck

[neck] See: [BREATHE DOWN ONE'S NECK], [BREAK ONE'S NECK], [CATCH IT IN THE NECK] or [GET IT IN THE NECK], [PAIN IN THE NECK], [SAVE ONE'S NECK], [STICK ONE'S NECK […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

catch it in the neck

[catch it in the neck] or [get it in the neck] {v. phr.}, {slang} To be blamed or punished. * /Tom got it in the neck because he forgot to […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

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