HE ПЕРВОЙ СВЕЖЕСТИ
collNP genInvarsubj-compl with copula or nonagreeing
modiffixed WO 1. ( subj: a noun denoting a food product) not as fresh as it could or should be
X был \С-36 = X wasn't very (particularly) fresh
X was going badX was starting to spoil(of milk, cream
etc) X had turned(of bread, a cake
etc) X was pretty stale.
2. ( subj: a noun denoting an item of clothing, piece of linen etc) having been worn or used since its last washing, sth. is less than totally clean
X был \С-36 = X was not completely (quite, very) clean (fresh)
X had already been worn (used, slept in
etc).
3. ( subj: анекдот, новости, информация etc) an anecdote (joke, some news, information etc) is not the most recent: (of an anecdote or joke only) stale
(that's) an old one (a chestnut)that one has been around for a while(of news, information
etc only) old (news)nothing new(in limited contexts) (information
etc that
s.o. ) already knows (has known for quite a while
etc).
4. (subj: human (often of a person, more commonly a woman, who tries to appear younger than he or she actually is) one no longer is or no longer looks very young
not exactly in the first flush (the first blush, the prime) of youth
not exactly in the flower of (one's) youthno youngster(in limited contexts) no spring chicken.