c. 1300, from a Scandinavian source akin to Old Norse rotinn "decayed," past participle of verb related to rotna "to decay," from Proto-Germanic stem *rut- (see rot (v.)). Sense of "corrupt" is from late 14c.; weakened sense of "bad" first recorded 1881. Rotten apple is from a saying traced back to at least 1528: "For one rotten apple lytell and lytell putrifieth an whole heape." The Rotten Row in London and elsewhere probably is from a different word, but of uncertain origin.
实用例句
1. Police corruption is not just a few rotten apples.
警方的腐败不仅仅是几个害群之马造成的。
来自柯林斯例句
2. Molly razzed me about my rotten sense of direction.
莫利笑话我糟糕的方向感。
来自柯林斯例句
3. They made the treacherous journey across stormy seas in rotten boats.
他们乘着破旧的小船穿越风大浪急的海面，完成了这次危险之旅。
来自柯林斯例句
4. It's a rotten play, so they can stick it.
这部剧糟透了，他们趁早拉倒吧。
来自柯林斯例句
5. The smell outside this building is overwhelming — like rotten eggs.
