paint the lily
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb phrase: - To make unnecessary or excessive additions to something that is already complete, excellent, or beautiful. It implies a futile or even detrimental attempt to improve perfection.
Usage
This phrase is used to criticize an action that adds superfluous decoration or complexity where none is needed. It describes a wasteful effort that can detract from the original quality.
Examples
- Adding more special effects to that perfect scene would be to paint the lily; it's already a masterpiece.
- Her speech was powerful and concise. Adding another ten minutes of explanation would just be painting the lily.
- The garden is naturally stunning. Putting up plastic ornaments is like painting the lily.
Advanced Usage
- The phrase is a common shortening and slight alteration of a line from Shakespeare's : "To gild refined gold, to paint the lily... Is wasteful and ridiculous excess."
- It is often used in artistic, literary, or design critiques to argue for simplicity and against over-embellishment.
Variants and Related Words
- Gild the lily: This is a more common modern variant with the same meaning. (e.g., )
- Overegg the pudding (chiefly British): To spoil something by trying too hard to improve it.
- Belabor the point: To elaborate on a point longer than necessary.
Synonyms
- Adorn unnecessarily
- Gild
- Overdo
- Overembellish
Related Idioms
- Carry coals to Newcastle: To take something to a place where it is already plentiful, making the action pointless. (This shares the concept of a superfluous action but focuses on location rather than quality.)
- Teach your grandmother to suck eggs: To offer advice to someone who is already an expert. (This shares the concept of an unnecessary addition of instruction.)
Verb
- make unnecessary additions to what is already complete
- adorn unnecessarily (something that is already beautiful)