Language: en
Meaning: (idiomatic)Something is notright, seriouslyamiss, especially when leading tosuspicionofmotive.If the authorities knew about the problems and chose not to prevent them, then clearlysomething is rotten in the state of Denmark.[c.1599–1602(date written),William Shake-speare,The Tragicall Historie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke:[…](First Quarto), London:[…][Valentine Simmes] forN[icholas]L[ing]andIohn Trundell, published1603,→OCLC, [Act I, scene iv],signature C3, verso:Something is rotten in the ſtate ofDenmarke.]1992November 18,Lord Mackie of Benshie, “World Food Situation”, inparliamentary debates(Lords Chamber)[1], volume540, column661: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”.2016, Robin Morgan, editor,Sisterhood Is Global[…], Open Road Media,→ISBN:My belief thatsomething is rotten in the State of Denmarkis bred by recent developments, both political and cultural. I feel that the feminist movement is now more on the defensive than the offensive,[…]
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