"Something is rotten in the state of Denmark" nghĩa là gì?

"Something is rotten in (the state of) Denmark" nghĩa là có điều gì đó kỳ lạ hoặc đáng ngờ đang xảy ra, có mùi tham nhũng. "Rotten" là thối rữa, mục nát. Câu thoại xuất phát từ vở Hamlet của Shakespeare.

Ví dụ

“Something’s rotten in the State of Denmark” is one of the most famous opening lines in all of Shakespeare’s works. However, today’s Denmark is just proving the opposite: there is something remarkably proper in the Kingdom.

In Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” Act 1, Scene 4, Marcellus says, “something is rotten in the state of Denmark.” Yes, that’s true, but let’s talk about something else that’s rotten - it’s in Washington, D.C. I refer to the flaying of Michael Flynn - a 100% patriotic (yêu nước) American citizen.

Citing a quote from William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark", the Kerala High Court directed the state police chief to conduct an inquiry regarding the investigation (cuộc điều tra) and submission (trình báo) of the final report in the seizure (tịch thu) of counterfeit currency (tiền giả) worth Rs 75 lakh.

Emanuel called the deal "a whitewash (minh oan) of justice." He spoke again Wednesday on the issue making references to Hamlet. "Something is rotten in Denmark...It doesn't add up. As I said yesterday, nothing here adds up," he said. When asked if the city would sue Smollett to recoup (bù đắp) the costs spent on the case, the Mayor refused to answer.

Bài trước: "Soon ripe, soon rotten" nghĩa là gì?