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

1. make unnecessary additions to what is already complete
2. adorn unnecessarily (something that is already beautiful)