Yoke around one’s neck

Meaning

The idiom "yoke around one’s neck" means to be heavily burdened or encumbered by something, often an obligation or responsibility that is difficult to fulfill. It can also refer to being restricted or limited in one's actions or choices.

Usage

• She feels like she has a yoke around her neck with all the responsibilities of running the household.
• The company placed too much work on their employees, resulting in a yoke around their necks that made it hard for them to take care of their personal lives.
• He felt like he was wearing a yoke when he was forced to attend the mandatory training seminar.
• The strict rules and regulations placed a yoke around their freedom and creativity as artists.
• She knew she had a choice to make, but felt like there was a yoke around her neck that made it difficult to do what she really wanted.

Roots and History

The idiom "yoke around one's neck" has its roots in the biblical story of Jesus Christ being crucified. During this process, he was placed on a beam or yoke to be secured to the cross. Over time, the phrase became metaphorical and used to describe any heavy burden or restriction that someone feels they are under.

Synonyms in English

• Albatross around one's neck
• Weight of the world on one's shoulders
• Millstone around one's neck
• Overbearing responsibility
• Burden too great to bear

Synonyms in other languages

• Chapeau de gendarme (French) - a metaphorical heavy burden or restriction that is difficult to remove
• Stelken op het hoofd (Dutch) - an unavoidable obligation or responsibility that weighs heavily on one's mind
• Loesje om de hals (German) - a necktie or yoke that represents an undesirable burden or obligation
• Obsjestje na rami (Russian) - a heavy burden or restriction that is hard to shake off
• Kozha s jelom (Russian) - a metaphorical feeling of being encased in a skin or body that one cannot escape from

Similar Idioms

• the early bird catches the worm

• dog tired

• you can’t take it with you