Gild the lily Meaning in English

expression

US

ˈɡɪɫd/ /ˈðə/, /ðə/, /ði/ /ˈɫɪɫi

GILD-thuh-LIL-ee

UK

ɡˈɪld/ /ðə, ði/ /lˈɪli

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.

Usage & Nuances

This is an idiomatic, somewhat formal expression, often used in negative advice ('Don't gild the lily'). It suggests restraint and avoiding unnecessary embellishments. Rare in casual speech, but common in writing and commentary.

• Spanish: sobrecargar lo perfecto - adornar lo ya bello
• Portuguese (BR): enfeitar demais o que já é bonito
• Portuguese (PT): enfeitar demasiado o que já é bonito
• Chinese (Simplified): 画蛇添足 - 画龙点睛（贬义）
• Chinese (Traditional): 畫蛇添足 - 畫龍點睛（貶義）
• Hindi: अत्यधिक सजावट करना - पहले से सुंदर वस्तु में बेकार जोड़ना
• Arabic: إضافة شيء زائد على الجميل - تزيين ما لا يحتاج إلى تزيين
• Bengali: অতিরিক্ত সাজসজ্জা করা - অতিরিক্ত শোভা বৃদ্ধি করা
• Russian: украшать и без того прекрасное - перебарщивать с украшениями
• Japanese: 蛇足を加える - 余計な飾りをつける
• Vietnamese: làm điều thừa thãi - thêm thắt không cần thiết
• Korean: 쓸데없이 덧붙이다 - 지나치게 꾸미다
• Turkish: zaten güzel olana fazladan süs eklemek - gereksiz süslemek
• Urdu: غیر ضروری آرائش کرنا - خوبصورت چیز کو مزید سجانا
• Indonesian: menambah sesuatu yang sudah sempurna - menghias secara berlebihan

Example Sentences

Don't gild the lily—the cake looks perfect already.

basic

Adding more colors to the design would gild the lily.

basic

She tried to gild the lily by putting extra bows on the gift.

basic

If you keep editing your essay, you'll just gild the lily and risk ruining it.

natural

Their wedding was beautiful as it was—they really didn't need to gild the lily with more decorations.

natural

Sometimes less is more—there's no reason to gild the lily when the original is already great.

natural