damaged goods

British  

/ ˈdæmɪdʒd /

noun

1. a person considered to be less than perfect psychologically, as a result of a traumatic experience

2. a person, esp a public figure, whose reputation has been damaged

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damaged goods Idioms  

1. 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]

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Example Sentences

The garments association has asked all its members to submit a list of damaged goods to determine the full extent of the losses.

From BBC

Which drops this issue on the lap of UCLA, which committed its own ethical blunder in taking Iamaleava’s damaged goods.

From Los Angeles Times

There were no battery recycling centers on Maui, and ship captains and insurers, wary of fire risks, didn’t want the damaged goods in their cargo.

From Los Angeles Times

These same “responsible” and “mainstream” voices also declared that there was no way that the Republican Party would nominate Trump to be its candidate in 2024, he is damaged goods with too much baggage, and the “adults in the room” would step in and rise to the occasion.

From Salon

And as much as general manager Rob Pelinka tried to make Doncic feel wanted during the kid’s initial Lakers news conference, Doncic still showed up as damaged goods, one of the league’s five best players toting an obliterated ego and a dazed stare.

From Los Angeles Times