Old Man of the Sea
noun
(in The Arabian Nights' Entertainments) an old man who clung to the shoulders of Sindbad the Sailor for many days and nights.
a burden, annoyance, care, or the like, from which it is extremely difficult to free oneself.
Example sentences from the Web for old man of the sea
She'll be an old-man-of-the-sea hanging around your neck whom you can't shake off.
Bought and Paid For |Arthur HornblowThis time we separated from our old-man-of-the-sea; the baggage went on to Portbou to await our afternoon arrival.
Glories of Spain |Charles W. Wood