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gild the lily |
Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Legal, Acronyms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson | 0.01 sec. |
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gild the lily Fig. to add ornament or decoration to something that is pleasing in its original state; to attempt to improve something that is already fine the way it is. (Often refers to flattery or exaggeration.) Your house has lovely brickwork. Don't paint it. That would be gilding the lily. Oh, Sally. You're beautiful the way you are. You don't need makeup. You would be gilding the lily. See also: lily gild the lily to spoil something by trying to improve or decorate it when it is already perfect Usage notes: To gild something is to cover it with a thin layer of gold. A lily is a beautiful white flower. To gild a lily would not be necessary. Should I add a scarf to this jacket or would it be gilding the lily? See also: lily How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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