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Original poster

What does this insult mean?

78 replies

thebuntingofblymanor · 05/11/2020 16:47

I’ve been informed that a male colleague (who has been sacked but apparently for something unrelated) has been using various nicknames for women at work in his email correspondences and my boss told me the one for me was “tinsel tits”.

Now I’m sure (well I know) that some will have had worse names but I’m not quite sure what mine actually means about me and it’s playing on my mind.

What would you assume by this nickname?

I’ve googled and it doesn’t really come up?

I didn’t have that much to do with this guy which is why I am confused as to why he would have an opinion of me. To me the name suggests someone who wears a lot of make up or jewellery maybe, I don’t wear either, at work when we were there I wore leggings and uggs. I was also pregnant for most of the time we worked together.

I know it shouldn’t bother me at all but it’s kind of upset me, it makes you think of how others perceive you when all you are doing is going about your daily business.

OP posts:
Boatonthehorizon · 05/11/2020 19:02

Legs 11 to which the recall is
twit-to-woo or 😘😘😘

RainingBatsAndFrogs · 05/11/2020 19:05

Yes he’s told all of us the names each of us got

Do you mean he told each of you individually 'your' name - or he told you the names everyone else got called as well?

If so that was even more out of order.

If my boss had told a colleague that I was called 'LardArseBadBreath' or 'BarrenBarbara' or something I would be very upset indeed.

HR sounds amateur and lacking.

But at least they sacked this sorry mess of a name-calling idiot.

HollowTalk · 05/11/2020 19:07

I think your boss should have said that when he looked at the guy's computer, he was using pretty nasty language about everyone who worked there and that if the guy wanted to stay in touch with anyone afterwards, they should think about that before agreeing.

waterjungle · 05/11/2020 19:12

I don't think it means anything. We had a bizarre guy in work once who got sacked after someone discovered his blog slagging almost everyone off. My best work friend was written about being a hairy faced, smelly, snobby, bitch. She is not in the slightest. It's just misogynistic bullshit.

I do however know that Evan Davis nickname is Tinsel Tits as he has nipple piercings!

Nailgirl · 05/11/2020 19:15

@thebuntingofblymanor

Apparently lots of his emails were found out as part of the reason he was sacked and my boss felt he should tell all us women what had been said about us... I must say i wasn’t sure if he was right about doing that. He’s a bit old school but I think his heart is in the right place.
Why. What good could possiblty have come of it?
SchadenfreudePersonified · 05/11/2020 19:15

No idea he's just a tw*t,

But I think it was inappropriate of your boss to tell you.

yvanka · 05/11/2020 19:17

I think he used up all his specific 'hilarious' nicknames on the people he knew well, so you got a bit of random alliteration.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 05/11/2020 19:17

@HollowTalk

I think your boss should have said that when he looked at the guy's computer, he was using pretty nasty language about everyone who worked there and that if the guy wanted to stay in touch with anyone afterwards, they should think about that before agreeing.
This is what you boss should have done - not given you all a blow-by-blow account of what he said.
meganorks · 05/11/2020 19:19

I think it might be an ironic nickname. Tinsel is all Christmasy and fun and jovial. Tinsel Tits is the opposite. I think have heard someone use it a long time ago when someone was being a bit miserable/grumpy about something. In fact I might have been tinsel tits!

Igglepigglesgrubbyblanket · 05/11/2020 19:22

Tinsel tits means that your boss is a dick. Nothing about you.

FatCatThinCat · 05/11/2020 19:26

As a previous poster says, I think it's a term associated with glittery showgirls or all dolled up women. He may have stuck that label on you as you say you're not that, which is why he thinks he's being funny. Although more likely he just pulled it out of his arse to denigrate another woman as he'd run out of other insults.

MarshaBradyo · 05/11/2020 19:27

It’s to show he’s above you and can denigrate you with a caustic comment.

Boss is an idiot for sharing it. What will it do other than make you all feel bad?

Original poster
thebuntingofblymanor · 05/11/2020 19:38

He called us in individually to tell us he was leaving and told us only our own nicknames. We have since discussed this between us which is how I know the other women’s names. Some of them seem to be able to brush them off, and some like me feel a bit more uneasy about it. And yes there was another male colleague he was mainly having these coded discussions with who is also being disciplined although hasn’t lost his job (and didn’t work in our office anyway).

OP posts:
Original poster
thebuntingofblymanor · 05/11/2020 19:38

Makes you wonder how often it all goes on, what is discussed between people.

OP posts:
CatAndHisKit · 05/11/2020 19:38

might mean someone flaunts their bust (i.e. like cabaret girls) - doesnt have to be glitter, but poss if someonewears tight / figure-hugging tops?

Original poster
thebuntingofblymanor · 05/11/2020 19:39

Sorry my reply there wasn’t clear makes it sound like the guy who’s left told us our names, I’m meaning my boss.

OP posts:
JuliaJohnston · 05/11/2020 19:39

He called us in individually to tell us he was leaving and told us only our own nicknames
How completely bizarre. Report the ridiculous little twat to HR, there is no credible reason for a manager to do this.

Original poster
thebuntingofblymanor · 05/11/2020 19:43

As several people have mentioned boobs, I mean I would say mine are at the smaller end of large if that makes sense (a D on a small frame) but I wear high neck loose tops, nothing flimsy or inviting believe me! In fact I’ve often thought I should smarten up my act at work but then something like this happens and I think imagine what I would get called if I DID make an effort!!

OP posts:
Dillo10 · 05/11/2020 19:44

It's just a way of describing a woman in a way that makes her seem insignificant or silly.
It has no specific meaning at all as far as I know.
It just shows his disrespect for women.
Don't worry about it x

lyralalala · 05/11/2020 19:47

The only reason for your boss to tell you would be if other people had found out about the names to ensure you heard about them privately rather than randomly.

Otherwise it's odd that he told you.

If the emails were found as part of his sacking had someone complained about him to start the investigation?

ChampagneCommunist · 05/11/2020 19:48

I've seen only heard of this "nickname" being used before, in that case it referred to a man with pierced nipples.

Original poster
thebuntingofblymanor · 05/11/2020 19:53

Well it’s left a bad taste in my mouth for sure! Amazing how something can get to you.

However thanks for your responses, they are reassuring and at least I feel a little better that there’s no “official” meaning for the phrase and it’s just him being a horrible idiot.

OP posts:
BrassyLocks · 05/11/2020 20:10

Maybe the boss is trying to cover his back because he was also a recipient of the sacked guy's emails but didn't put a stop to it initially?

CatAndHisKit · 05/11/2020 20:19

after reading your update re style of dress, obvs there is no rhume or reason - WHO KNOWS! Apart from the fact he's an obnoxious prat.

CatAndHisKit · 05/11/2020 20:19

rhyme