gild the lily
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gild 1
(gĭld)tr.v. gild·ed or gilt (gĭlt), gild·ing, gilds
Idiom: 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.
gild the lily
1. To adorn unnecessarily something already beautiful.
2. To make superfluous additions to what is already complete.
gild′er n.
gild 2
(gĭld)n.
Variant of guild.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
gild the lily
To try to beautify something that is already beautiful and needs no further adornment.
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited
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Verb | 1. | gild the lily - adorn unnecessarily (something that is already beautiful) |
2. | gild the lily - make unnecessary additions to what is already complete 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" |
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