How to Pronounce "gild the lily"
expression
GILD-thuh-LIL-ee
gild-thuh-LIL-ee
Definition
To unnecessarily add decorations or improvements to something that is already beautiful or perfect, making it worse or excessive instead of better.
IPA Transcription
American English
ˈɡɪɫd/ /ˈðə/, /ðə/, /ði/ /ˈɫɪɫi
British English
ɡˈɪld/ /ðə, ði/ /lˈɪli
Simplified Pronunciation
US
GILD-thuh-LIL-ee
UK
gild-thuh-LIL-ee
Listen in Context
Don't gild the lily—the cake looks perfect already.
Adding more colors to the design would gild the lily.
She tried to gild the lily by putting extra bows on the gift.
If you keep editing your essay, you'll just gild the lily and risk ruining it.