# A news link says topless, in your opinion, is nudity involved? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 5, 2019, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-news-link-says-topless-in-your-opinion-is-nudity-involved/830571 "2019-03-05T14:58:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-news-link-says-topless-in-your-opinion-is-nudity-involved/830571/1 "2019-03-05T14:58:36Z")
I’m trying to decide if the word topless is being used incorrectly? Traditionally, _topless_ meant exposed female breasts. They could be partially covered by hands or objects. But topless implied the front side of the person. Lately, shots from the back are labeled topless. 😕 Example, completely safe for work of a tat on a lady’s back. > **[Halle Berry shows off massive new tattoo in topless Instagram pic](https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/halle-berry-shows-off-massive-new-tattoo-who-says-im-not-a-mermaid-she-says)** > > Halle Berry revealed a massive back tattoo in a topless Instagram photo Monday. We have no idea if her front has some covering. Did the meaning of the word change? Is this use of the word just clickbait? ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-news-link-says-topless-in-your-opinion-is-nudity-involved/830571/2 "2019-03-05T15:21:41Z")
Oh man, when I saw that headline, I couldn’t wait to get home to see the photo. It’s just her back? What a rip off. That’s not topless. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-news-link-says-topless-in-your-opinion-is-nudity-involved/830571/3 "2019-03-05T15:24:28Z")
“Topless” means, no clothing from the waist up. Applies regardless of gender. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-news-link-says-topless-in-your-opinion-is-nudity-involved/830571/4 "2019-03-05T15:27:00Z")
Yes, it means (partial) nudity is involved, as it is in the picture under discussion. Berry is not wearing anything on her top, therefore she can be accurately described as both “topless” and as “partially nude” (she’s not completely nude because she’s still wearing a skirt). ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-news-link-says-topless-in-your-opinion-is-nudity-involved/830571/5 "2019-03-05T15:27:24Z")
“topless” means the writer consciously or unconsciously promotes the notion that a person’s upper torso should be covered up. It’s generally sex-specific (women’s torso, not men’s). Every time I see it in print I visualize Beavis and Butthead drooling imbecilically. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-news-link-says-topless-in-your-opinion-is-nudity-involved/830571/6 "2019-03-05T15:53:34Z")
Yeah, it’s really weird seeing topless used for men. I don’t consider a guy without a shirt topless. I mow my yard without a shirt. I don’t think it gives the neighbors a thrill. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-news-link-says-topless-in-your-opinion-is-nudity-involved/830571/7 "2019-03-05T15:57:29Z")
Though _technically_ topless means “without clothes on the upper half of the body”, my mind instantly goes to “woman with with no top, breasts exposed”, which is exactly what the writers of the click bait were betting on. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-news-link-says-topless-in-your-opinion-is-nudity-involved/830571/8 "2019-03-05T15:58:03Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Yeah, it’s really weird seeing topless used for men. > > I don’t consider a guy without a shirt topless. I mow my yard without a shirt. > > I don’t think it gives the neighbors a thrill. 😉 I would call that ‘shirtless’, although thinking about it, I’m not keen on the gender differentiation – certainly the idea that it’s ok for men but not for women ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-news-link-says-topless-in-your-opinion-is-nudity-involved/830571/9 "2019-03-05T15:58:18Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Yeah, it’s really weird seeing topless used for men. > > I don’t consider a guy without a shirt topless. I mow my yard without a shirt. > > I don’t think it gives the neighbors a thrill. 😉 So you perceive topless as being erotic? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-news-link-says-topless-in-your-opinion-is-nudity-involved/830571/10 "2019-03-05T16:05:15Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > So you perceive topless as being erotic? It can be. It depends on the situation. Sometimes it’s just a lady without her shirt. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-news-link-says-topless-in-your-opinion-is-nudity-involved/830571/11 "2019-03-05T17:52:28Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > “topless” means the writer consciously or unconsciously promotes the notion that a person’s upper torso should be covered up. It’s generally sex-specific (women’s torso, not men’s). Every time I see it in print I visualize Beavis and Butthead drooling imbecilically. I usually think of the neon signs at Clubs in Vegas. [![](https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2040/2107991957_eee45e1309_z.jpg?zz%3D1&imgrefurl=https://www.flickr.com/photos/herschell/2107991957&tbnid=LUYmhdfeLg_zEM&vet=1&docid=UQGj-1u7Yc7JjM&w=321&h=500&source=sh/x/im) ](https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2040/2107991957_eee45e1309_z.jpg?zz%3D1&imgrefurl=https://www.flickr.com/photos/herschell/2107991957&tbnid=LUYmhdfeLg_zEM&vet=1&docid=UQGj-1u7Yc7JjM&w=321&h=500&source=sh/x/im) ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-news-link-says-topless-in-your-opinion-is-nudity-involved/830571/12 "2019-03-05T18:14:46Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Though _technically_ topless means “without clothes on the upper half of the body”, my mind instantly goes to “woman with with no top, breasts exposed”, which is exactly what the writers of the click bait were betting on. Agree. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-news-link-says-topless-in-your-opinion-is-nudity-involved/830571/13 "2019-03-05T18:24:20Z")
As good an excuse as any to post [this fun song.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nYba-nS_Xw) ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-news-link-says-topless-in-your-opinion-is-nudity-involved/830571/14 "2019-03-05T18:29:34Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > So you perceive topless as being erotic? It’s a sure way to get an R rating in the US. Is this a serious question? ETA: Wiki seems to agree it refers to a woman without a shirt with breasts exposed. I’d link, but it’s NSFW. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-news-link-says-topless-in-your-opinion-is-nudity-involved/830571/15 "2019-03-05T19:46:43Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Though _technically_ topless means “without clothes on the upper half of the body”, my mind instantly goes to “woman with with no top, breasts exposed”, which is exactly what the writers of the click bait were betting on. This exactly. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2019, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-news-link-says-topless-in-your-opinion-is-nudity-involved/830571/16 "2019-03-05T19:57:26Z")
To me, “topless” implies a female, as men don’t wear “tops” they wear “shirts,” but maybe that’s just me. “Shirtless” would be ambiguous.