shop-soiled

The shop-soiled book was placed on the discount table.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Slightly dirty or damaged: "shop-soiled" describes an item that has become slightly dirty, faded, or worn because it has been on display in a shop for a long time.
   • Stale or unoriginal: When used figuratively, "shop-soiled" can refer to an idea or argument that is no longer fresh or interesting, having been used too many times.

Usage Examples

• (Items that are slightly dirty from being displayed are being sold for less.)
• (His old, overused excuses lacked credibility.)

Advanced Usage

• "Shop-soiled argument": a cliché or outdated point of view.
  • The politician repeated a shop-soiled argument about tax cuts. (He used an old, unoriginal argument that has been heard many times before.)

Variants and Related Words

• Shop-worn (adj): a synonym for "shop-soiled", meaning slightly damaged or faded from being displayed in a shop.
  • The shop-worn books were marked down in price. (The books had minor wear from being on the shelf.)

Synonyms

• Slightly damaged: a bit worn or imperfect.
• Faded: having lost colour or brightness.
• Stale: no longer fresh or new (used figuratively for ideas).

Related Idioms

• "Past its sell-by date": no longer useful or acceptable, often due to being old or overused.
  • That theory is past its sell-by date; it's shop-soiled and irrelevant. (The theory is outdated and no longer valuable.)