Meanings
A common misquotation of a line from William Shakespeare's play King John.[1]
How to pronounce "gild the lily":
US
AU
To embellish or improve something unnecessarily.
To add superfluous attributes to something.
Example Sentences
1
After already receiving a standing ovation, the actor felt it would be unnecessary to gild the lily by delivering an encore performance.
2
She was already stunningly beautiful, so wearing heavy makeup would just gild the lily.
3
The chef decided not to add any extra spices to the dish, as it might gild the lily and overpower the natural flavors.
4
The garden was already a picturesque paradise; adding more flowers would only gild the lily.
5
The sculpture exhibited exquisite craftsmanship; any further embellishments would only serve to gild the lily.
