a rotten thing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a rotten thing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is decayed, spoiled, or morally corrupt. Example: "The abandoned house was filled with a rotten thing that had once been a beautiful piece of furniture."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

It was a rotten thing to say to a beginner.

The New York Times

"It's a rotten thing, and I'm sorry, but there's nothing to be done.

The New Yorker

"To do this to irises is a rotten thing for someone to do," Mrs. Plank said.

The New York Times

He said that wiretapping was a rotten thing for any government to engage in.

The New Yorker

He went on, "Or did you kiss it so that it would turn into a prince, but, instead, it's just grown bigger, and you've got smaller?" He looked at the girl, and suddenly what René Dalmann had done seemed to him a rotten thing to do, a sacrilege.

The New Yorker

(And crawling is not such a rotten thing, too If crawling is what you were brought up to do).

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Later in the story, Duffy gets drunk while visiting a Southern university and makes an awful scene in a restaurant, insisting that the crab he's been served isn't crab but "some rotten thing out of a tube".

The New York Times - Books

It was like either: (A) I was a terrible guy who was knowingly doing this rotten thing over and over, or (B) it wasn't so rotten, really, just normal, and the way to confirm that it was normal was to keep doing it over and over.

The New Yorker

They're gonna do every rotten thing they can think of doing".

The New York Times

That fragile and rotten thing, the Kenyan state, will have to help sustain those dramatic improvements, by providing decent teachers, doctors and farm advisers just what Kenyans have most lacked.

The Economist

Why can he not, in the words of one veteran Labour MP in the play, "get up and take the whole rotten thing on?" But to ask that question is to misunderstand what rhetoric is.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a rotten thing" to express strong disapproval or disgust towards something, especially when emphasizing its moral deficiency or state of decay. Consider the audience and context, as the phrase carries a negative connotation.

Common error

Avoid using "a rotten thing" in contexts that require a more nuanced or subtle expression of dislike. The phrase is relatively strong and might be inappropriate for minor inconveniences or disagreements.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a rotten thing" functions primarily as a noun phrase that serves to describe something as being morally corrupt, decayed, or otherwise undesirable. Ludwig examples show it applying to actions, situations, or objects.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a rotten thing" is a noun phrase used to express strong disapproval or disgust towards something considered morally corrupt, decayed, or undesirable. According to Ludwig, the phrase appears in neutral contexts like News & Media. While grammatically correct, it's important to consider the intensity of the phrase to ensure it fits the specific context. Alternatives such as "a terrible thing" or "a nasty thing" may be more appropriate in certain situations. Finally, remember that Ludwig provides examples and information regarding the expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a terrible thing

Replaces "rotten" with "terrible", emphasizing the severity of the negativity.

a dreadful thing

Substitutes "rotten" with "dreadful", highlighting the unpleasantness and fear associated with it.

a nasty thing

Replaces "rotten" with "nasty", focusing on the unpleasant and offensive nature.

an awful thing

Uses "awful" instead of "rotten", conveying a sense of something being extremely bad or disagreeable.

a deplorable thing

Replaces "rotten" with "deplorable", suggesting moral reprehensibility and strong disapproval.

a contemptible thing

Similar in meaning, this phrase underscores the level of disdain and disrespect the subject is worthy of.

a shameful thing

This suggests that the act or object is something one should be embarrassed or regretful about.

a wretched thing

This emphasizes the poor and miserable state of the object or situation, suggesting it's deserving of pity.

a regrettable incident

Shifts from describing an object to an event, softening the negativity by calling it an "incident".

an unfortunate affair

Replaces "thing" with "affair", often used for events or situations, implying bad luck or misfortune.

FAQs

How can I use "a rotten thing" in a sentence?

You can use "a rotten thing" to describe something you strongly disapprove of or find morally objectionable. For example, "Lying to your friends is "a rotten thing" to do".

What's a more formal alternative to "a rotten thing"?

In more formal contexts, you might consider using phrases like "a deplorable act" or "a reprehensible deed" instead of ""a rotten thing"".

Is "a rotten thing" always used to describe actions?

No, ""a rotten thing"" can also describe objects or situations that are in a state of decay or are otherwise undesirable. For instance, "The old house was filled with "a rotten thing" that used to be furniture".

What are some other ways to express strong disapproval besides using "a rotten thing"?

Alternatives include using phrases like "a terrible thing", "a dreadful thing", or "a nasty thing" to convey varying degrees of negativity depending on the situation.