Meanings
A line spoken by Marcellus in William Shakespeare's Hamlet, Act I, scene iv.
How to pronounce "something is rotten in the state of Denmark":
AU
Something is not right, seriously amiss, especially when leading to suspicion of motive.
Example: "If the authorities knew about the problems and chose not to prevent them, then clearly something is rotten in the state of Denmark."
Example Sentences
1
The scandal that recently surfaced suggests that something is rotten in the state of Denmark.
2
The mysterious disappearance of funds indicates that something is rotten in the state of Denmark.
3
With the increasing crime rates, it is evident that something is rotten in the state of Denmark.
4
The unethical practices of certain businesses imply that something is rotten in the state of Denmark.
5
The lack of transparency in government affairs hints that something is rotten in the state of Denmark.