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há algo de podre no reino da Dinamarca

Meaning: something is deeply wrong or suspicious, though the truth may be hidden.

Language: Portuguese

Literally: there is something rotten in the kingdom of Denmark

Category: The Absurd

Origin: A direct allusion to Hamlet, where the phrase signifies hidden corruption at the heart of power.

More idioms — The Absurd

  • brincar com fogo — to engage in a risky or dangerous behavior; to put oneself in harm's way.
  • er met een jantje-van-leiden van afmaken — to perform a task carelessly, half-heartedly, or in a slipshod manner.
  • bij de duivel te biecht gaan — to seek counsel or confide in someone who is untrustworthy, dangerous, or morally corrupt.
  • van lotje getikt — To be crazy or eccentric; to be not quite sane.
  • in de wind slaan — To deliberately ignore or disregard something.
  • uit zijn plaat gaan — To lose control of oneself or go crazy.

More Portuguese idioms

  • nascer em berço de ouro — to be born into wealth and privilege; to come from a rich family.
  • colocar o carro à frente dos bois — To have the wrong priorities or do things in the wrong order.
  • ombro a ombro — On equal terms, standing together as peers.
  • do dia para a noite — Very suddenly or extremely quickly.
  • vaca sagrada — Something so valued or protected that it cannot be criticized, changed, or harmed.
  • morrer de rir — To laugh very hard or uproariously.

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