There is a tinselly halo about the writer of books that affects many minds the most practical, so called; they take it to indicate power, which, with most, means ability in the direction of one's own way, or his party's, and so his own in the end.
"Weighed and Wanting"
George MacDonald
A Punch and Judy were acting on a little stage during the procession, surrounded by children of all sizes and ages decked out in costumes, their tinselly flowers showing off their thin and sallow faces.
"In the Courts of Memory 1858-1875."
L. de Hegermann-Lindencrone
The place was so tinselly and common that, coming to it from weeks of rough travelling, it made me impatient.
"Greenmantle"
John Buchan