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gild the lily

/ɡɪld ðə ˈlɪli/

1 entry

phrase

/ɡɪld ðə ˈlɪli/C1formalart
  • ruБессмысленно украшать или приукрашивать то, что уже прекрасно или совершенно, что часто приводит к излишеству или порче первоначального эффекта.

To unnecessarily adorn or embellish something that is already beautiful or perfect, often resulting in excess or spoiling the original effect.

  1. Unnecessary embellishmentC1informal

    To add unnecessary decoration or improvement to something that is already beautiful or perfect.

    ruУкрашать и без того прекрасное

    • Adding more decorations to the wedding cake would be gilding the lily.
    • Her dress was already elegant; adding more jewels was just gilding the lily.
    • The director's final cut was perfect, but the studio insisted on adding more special effects, which was gilding the lily.