collocation · neutral
emotional baggage
UK/ɪˈməʊʃənəl ˈbægɪdʒ/US/ɪˈmoʊʃənəl ˈbægɪdʒ/e·mo·TION·al BAG·gage
unresolved emotional problems from the past that affect current behaviour or relationships
Examples
“He carries a lot of emotional baggage from his previous relationship.”
“Therapy helped her deal with emotional baggage.”
“Dating someone with emotional baggage can be challenging.”
Band 8 sentence
“Many people enter new relationships without addressing emotional baggage, which often leads to repeated patterns of conflict.”
Collocations
- carry emotional baggage
- deal with emotional baggage
Word family
Common mistakes
baggage emotional→emotional baggage
an emotional baggage→emotional baggage
Say it for a higher band
5past problems→6emotional issues→7+emotional baggage
Synonyms
past trauma
emotional burden
Easily confused
emotional burden
“He couldn't move on because of emotional baggage from his childhood.”
Related words
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In Family & Relationships
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