Collocations for "rotten"
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word "rotten" in context.
WordReference English Collocations © 2025
rotten
ⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK.adj
- a rotten [apple, avocado, tomato]
- rotten [fruit, ingredients, food, vegetables, meat]
- these [apples] [are, have gone] rotten
- this [apple] is all rotten
- is moldy and rotten
- [looks, smells, tastes] rotten
- smells [of, like] rotten eggs
- [that was, he played] a rotten [trick, joke, prank]
- the rotten [core, history, element] of (our society)
- is a dirty rotten [liar, traitor, scoundrel]
- rotten and cowardly
- rotten [thugs, hooligans, scoundrels, criminals]
- that was a rotten thing to [say, do]!
- what a rotten thing to [say]!
- that was rotten luck!
- it [was, would be] just my rotten luck (to)
- had a rotten day at [school, work, the store, the office]
- had a rotten [time, vacation, Christmas]
- what rotten weather!
- a rotten day for a [walk, hike, picnic]
- one rotten apple spoiled the bunch
- a few rotten apples spoiled the [fun, game, concert]
- (exposes) the rotten heart of [government, racism]
- [he, the thug] is rotten to the core
- UK: had a rotten [stomach, head] afterwards
- felt rotten about [saying, having said, what I said]
- felt rotten for not having [gone, said, mentioned]
- felt rotten after [the meal, the ride, a few drinks]
- am feeling so rotten from this [flu, stomach ache]
- spoils [her, his children] rotten
'rotten' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):