Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
gild the lily
idiom
/ɡɪld ðə ˈlɪli/
Definition
To add unnecessary ornamentation to something that is already beautiful.
Examples
She felt that the new decorations would gild the lily in an already stunning garden.
His elaborate speech seemed to gild the lily; the project was already impressive without the extra flair.
Meaning
The phrase suggests that enhancing something which is already excellent is unnecessary and may even detract from its value.
Synonyms
- overdo
- embellish
- exaggerate
- enhance unnecessarily
