Meaning of something is rotten in the state of Denmark | Babel Free

Definitions

Something is not right, seriously amiss, especially when leading to suspicion of motive.

idiomatic

Equivalents

Examples

“If the authorities knew about the problems and chose not to prevent them, then clearly something is rotten in the state of Denmark.”

“Something is rotten in the ſtate of Denmarke.”

“If divided roughly, two-thirds of them work in desk jobs while one-third are involved in field work. When one gets that sort of proportion one begins to think, “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark”.”

“My belief that something is rotten in the State of Denmark is bred by recent developments, both political and cultural. I feel that the feminist movement is now more on the defensive than the offensive, […]”

CEFR level