Phrase guide

gild the lily

verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˈɡɪld ðə ˈlɪli/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To embellish or improve something unnecessarily.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: go overboard, overegg, over-egg the pudding

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To add superfluous attributes to something.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

make unnecessary additions to what is already complete

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: paint the lily

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: add

4

verb

Meaning 4

adorn unnecessarily (something that is already beautiful)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: paint the lily

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: decorate, adorn, grace, ornament, embellish, beautify

History

Etymology

A common misquotation of a line from William Shakespeare's play King John.

Across languages

Translations

21 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 畫蛇添足 /画蛇添足 (huàshétiānzú) — to improve unnecessarily
  • Danish: overbrodere — to improve unnecessarily
  • Finnish: kruusata — to improve unnecessarily
  • German: unnötig ausschmücken — to improve unnecessarily
  • German: des Guten zu viel tun — to improve unnecessarily
  • Italian: infronzolare — to improve unnecessarily
  • Italian: agghindare — to improve unnecessarily
  • Italian: azzimare — to improve unnecessarily
  • Japanese: 画蛇添足 (gada tensoku) — to improve unnecessarily
  • Korean: 화사첨족 (hwasacheomjok) — to improve unnecessarily
  • Polish: przedobrzać — to improve unnecessarily
  • Polish: przedobrzyć — to improve unnecessarily
  • Ukrainian: переборщи́ти (pereborščýty) — to improve unnecessarily
  • Ukrainian: переприкра́сити (pereprykrásyty) — to improve unnecessarily
  • Danish: overbrodere — to add superfluous attributes
  • Finnish: maalailla — to add superfluous attributes
  • German: übertreiben — to add superfluous attributes
  • Italian: infronzolare — to add superfluous attributes
  • Polish: przesadzać — to add superfluous attributes
  • Polish: przesadzić — to add superfluous attributes
  • Spanish: rizar el rizo — to add superfluous attributes