Rotten to the core Meaning in English
expression
Definition
Describes someone or something as completely bad, dishonest, or corrupt at every level, with no goodness left inside.
Usage & Nuances
Strongly negative, idiomatic, and often used for institutions or people in power accused of deep corruption or moral failure. Not literal; rarely used for objects. Common with 'the system is rotten to the core', 'that company is rotten to the core'.
Example Sentences
Some people say that the company is rotten to the core.
basic
They believe the government is rotten to the core.
basic
The organization was found to be rotten to the core after the investigation.
basic
You can't trust anything they say—this place is rotten to the core.
natural
After years of scandals, people finally realized the whole system was rotten to the core.
natural
It seemed nice on the surface, but the organization was rotten to the core underneath.
natural