gild the lily

gild ¹  (gld)

tr.v. gild·ed or gilt (glt), gild·ing, gilds

1. To cover with or as if with a thin layer of gold.

2. To give an often deceptively attractive or improved appearance to.

3. Archaic To smear with blood.

Idiom:

gild the lily

1. To adorn unnecessarily something already beautiful.

2. To make superfluous additions to what is already complete.

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[Middle English gilden, from Old English gyldan; see ghel-² in Indo-European roots.]

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gilder n.

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gild ²  (gld)

n.

Variant of guild.

Thesaurus

Verb	1.	gild the lily - adorn unnecessarily (something that is already beautiful) paint the lily adorn, decorate, grace, ornament, embellish, beautify - make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc.; "Decorate the room for the party"; "beautify yourself for the special day"
	2.	gild the lily - make unnecessary additions to what is already complete paint the lily add - make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of; "We added two students to that dorm room"; "She added a personal note to her letter"; "Add insult to injury"; "Add some extra plates to the dinner table"