To have "an albatross around your neck" means:

Appeared in: GMCH - 2016

Explanation

The idiom 'an albatross around one's neck' refers to a heavy and persistent burden, often a source of guilt, shame, or a significant obstacle.
This phrase originates from Samuel Taylor Coleridge's 1798 poem, 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.'.
In the poem, a sailor is punished for killing an albatross by being forced to wear the dead bird around his neck, which serves as a constant and burdensome reminder of his transgression.

Option A: This is incorrect. Being rich by birth implies privilege and advantage, which is the opposite of a burden. The common idiom for this is 'born with a silver spoon in one's mouth.'.
Option B: This is incorrect. While a death sentence is a severe negative outcome, the albatross idiom specifically refers to a lingering, ongoing burden that one must live with, not a final punishment like death.
Option D: This is incorrect. Having enemies refers to external threats or opposition from other people. The 'albatross' is an internal or personal burden that an individual carries themselves, regardless of others.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Meaning of Idiomatic Expressions as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Effective Communication: Understanding common idioms helps in comprehending patients' and colleagues' expressions of stress, anxiety, or problems, which might be described metaphorically.
Patient Rapport: Recognizing such phrases can show empathy and build a stronger nurse-patient relationship, as it demonstrates an understanding of their emotional state.
What if? If a patient said, 'This diagnosis is an albatross around my neck,' a nurse who understands the idiom would recognize the patient feels their condition is a heavy, constant burden, and could respond with empathy and offers of support, rather than confusion.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the core task: The question asks for the definition of the idiom 'an albatross around your neck.'
Analyze the idiom metaphorically. Think about what having a heavy object, like a large dead bird, hanging from your neck would feel like. It would be a constant, heavy, and unpleasant weight—a burden.
Evaluate each option based on this metaphorical understanding.
Option A ('To be very rich') is a positive state, the opposite of a burden. Eliminate it.
Option B ('To be sentenced to death') is a final outcome, whereas a burden is an ongoing problem. Eliminate it.
Option D ('To have enemies') describes external conflict, while the idiom suggests a personal, carried weight. Eliminate it.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full GMCH - 2016

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.