damaged goods


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damaged goods

1. Literally, products that have become inferior or unsellable as the result of being damaged or impaired in some way. They sold me damaged goods and wouldn't refund my money when I went to return them! Aw man, the entire shipment is damaged goods due to that accident at the warehouse. Hey, these are damaged goods! There are tears all along the seams!
2. A person who is seen as emotionally or psychologically unstable as the result of some traumatic experience. (Possibly derogatory.) Growing up with abusive parents has left me as damaged goods. Plenty of soldiers come back from war feeling like they're damaged goods—you're not alone in that. It took years of therapy before I stopped feeling like I was damaged goods.
3. A person whose reputation has been damaged, corrupted, or tarnished. The young CEO became damaged goods after news of his insider trading spread—now he can't even get a job flipping burgers. The product I invented was recalled for safety issues—of course I'm damaged goods! Everyone thinks our retirement fund manager stole from us, so yeah, he's damaged goods now.
4. dated A derogatory term for a woman who is considered unmarriageable or otherwise inferior due to having engaged in sexual intercourse before or outside of marriage. I once thought that she was the fairest, purest woman in town, but now that I know she had illicit relations with another man, she is nothing but damaged goods to me. If the other prominent families in town find out that Eliza's had relations with other men, she'll be damaged goods to them! I think that's a terribly antiquated notion, my dear. You're not damaged goods to me because you've had an intimate relationship with another man.
See also: damage, good
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

damaged goods

A person, especially an unmarried woman who is no longer a virgin, as in A person who has sex before marriage is not considered damaged goods in this day and age . This pejorative expression transfers the reduced value of materials (stock, provisions, etc.) marred in some way to women who have had a sexual experience. [Early 1900s]
See also: damage, good
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

damaged goods

a person who is regarded as inadequate or impaired in some way. informal
2001 Business Week Magazine Although Chirac looks like damaged goods, no other conservative has the stature to make a serious run for the presidency.
See also: damage, good
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
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References in periodicals archive ?
Additionally, if the recipient of the damaged goods does not give written notice of the damage sustained to the goods to the carrier or his/her representative at the unloading port before or during delivery of the damaged goods, the presumption will be that the goods have been delivered to him in the conditions set out in the bill of lading, unless evidence to the contrary is presented or if the damaged goods have been inspected at the time of delivery in presence of the acrrier or his representitive and the person taking delivery of the good.
Check displays and shelves for damaged goods and replace immediately.
Whether the requirement is for switching pallet type, replacing a broken pallet or removing damaged goods, supplying a stainless steel unit for food or pharmaceutical use or a pile turner for use with sheet or board, the company offers a solution.
Arguably the "Best Punk Band" currently in Wormtown, The Numbskulls - singer-guitarist Alex Nagorski, bassist Lysie Nagorski, guitarist James Keyes and drummer Jay Barney - will deliver beloved mosh and soon to be body surf classics as "Heads Are Gonna Roll," "Slam Pig Parade" and "Damaged Goods" (all from their soon-to-be released "Year One, Day One").
The floods also damaged goods and merchandise inside shops in Jahangira Market.
The additional benefits include travel insurance, car rental features, protection cover for lost or damaged goods during travel, airport lounge access, airport transfers and business communication services, senior bank officials told reporters.
"Damaged Goods" is the story of freelance reporter Jack McMorrow.
Both damaged goods: he to return to obscurity, she to be reshuffled come June..
GEORGE OSBORNE is not only damaged goods, but he has damaged even further the already creaking reputation of the political class in this country.
The clearing up after floods and the manufacturing of replacement furniture and white goods after flood damage and the disposal of the flood damaged goods all add to the environmental damage.
He's damaged goods. I knew something was wrong when I confronted him about some woman and he made up some excuse rather than deny it outright.A"
The PalletPal Rotator can be used to rotate fully loaded pallets, replace broken pallets, and switch to or from in-house/shipping pallets, transfer loads to slip sheets, and replace damaged goods at the bottom of a load without the need for manual restacking.
Simpson, nevertheless, navigated bumps in fire road, like gritting her teeth through tasteless AIDS jokes and rejoining the dating scene, where many equate HIV positive with damaged goods. (She's happily involved with a man now.) Simpson, 48 and healthy, has taken her hard-earned woman warrior perspective into the classroom by teaching her self-conceived technique called The Lucid Body, a chakra-based method geared for actors but also helpful for "dancers who seek emotional clarity in their work." Though she is p]eased to be viewed as a female HIV positive role model, she doesn't necessarily want to be pegged just as "an HIV artist." Instead, she says, "I want to be judged on the merits of my work and my teaching."