Gild the lily
verb
To add unnecessary ornamentation or embellishment to something already beautiful or perfect.
The garden is gorgous naturally; adding decorations would be gilding the lily.
Often appears as...
- unnecessarily gild the lily
- risk of gilding the lily
Usage tips
Disapproving
Idiomatic
verb
To add unnecessary ornamentation or embellishment to something already beautiful or perfect.
The garden is gorgous naturally; adding decorations would be gilding the lily.
Often appears as...
- unnecessarily gild the lily
- risk of gilding the lily
Usage tips
Disapproving
Idiomatic
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Metaphorical Use
It's used metaphorically to describe overdoing or excessive enhancement of something already sufficient or perfect.
Printing her award on golden paper would be gilding the lily.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Nuance
The phrase usually suggests that the excess is somewhat negative or unnecessary.
He was already praised by everyone; the speech in his honor gilded the lily.
Pro Tip 3/3Cautious Usage
Avoid using it to describe situations where improvements or enhancements are genuinely needed.
Instead of helping, his extra explanations gilded the lily and caused more confusion.
Pro Tip 1/3Metaphorical Use
It's used metaphorically to describe overdoing or excessive enhancement of something already sufficient or perfect.
Printing her award on golden paper would be gilding the lily.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Nuance
The phrase usually suggests that the excess is somewhat negative or unnecessary.
He was already praised by everyone; the speech in his honor gilded the lily.
Pro Tip 3/3Cautious Usage
Avoid using it to describe situations where improvements or enhancements are genuinely needed.
Instead of helping, his extra explanations gilded the lily and caused more confusion.
Pro Tip 1/3Metaphorical Use
It's used metaphorically to describe overdoing or excessive enhancement of something already sufficient or perfect.
Printing her award on golden paper would be gilding the lily.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Nuance
The phrase usually suggests that the excess is somewhat negative or unnecessary.
He was already praised by everyone; the speech in his honor gilded the lily.
Pro Tip 3/3Cautious Usage
Avoid using it to describe situations where improvements or enhancements are genuinely needed.
Instead of helping, his extra explanations gilded the lily and caused more confusion.
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