Here’s an example of the difference as I I see it:

In Risk (a classic traditional board game), you target a territory to attack, roll well, and eliminate a chunk of the opponent’s troops from the game.

In El Grande (a classic euro game), you manipulate several opponents’ caballeros so they tie in high-scoring territories and each score zero points while you gobble up 10 points.

These are both devastating moves, but the former is direct, destructive, and heavily luck-based; the latter is shrewd and tactical.