core

rotten to the core

Fig. really bad; corrupt. That lousy punk is rotten to the core. The entire administration is rotten to the core.

See also: rotten

to the core

all the way through; basically and essentially. (Usually with some negative sense, such as evil, rotten, etc.) Bill said that John is evil to the core. This organization is rotten to the core.

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be rotten to the core

if a person or an organization is rotten to the core, it behaves in a way that is not honest or moral The whole legal system is rotten to the core.

See a bad apple, spoil rotten

See also: rotten

to the core

in every part

Usage notes: The core is the central part of something, for example an apple or the earth.

He's convinced that the army is rotten to the core. I'd never heard anything like it. I was shocked to the core. (= extremely shocked)

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to the core

completely or totally A showman to the core, Chuck arrived at my party wearing a white headdress and a long purple cape.

Usage notes: often used in the form rotten to the core (totally bad or evil): That kid is rotten to the core.