gild the lily

Cultural  

1. To adorn unnecessarily something that is already beautiful or perfect: “Morty had us all believing his tall tale until he couldn't resist gilding the lily.”

---

gild the lily Idioms  

1. Add unnecessary adornment or supposed improvement. For example, Offering three different desserts after that elaborate meal would be gilding the lily. This expression is a condensation of Shakespeare's metaphor in King John (4:2): “To gild refined gold, to paint the lily ... is wasteful and ridiculous excess.” [c. 1800]

---

Example Sentences

There was a bit of seasoning, garlic and oil to gild the lily, but it was foremost tomato-forward.

From Salon

But he shouldn’t gild the lily with figures that seem plucked from thin air — which might also explain why they change depending on the day.

From Washington Post

Trump continues on a daily basis to gild the lily, misstate the facts and ad lib serious policy all along the way.

From Salon

“In a moment where the facts are as absolutely clear, gilding the lily was not necessary,” said a Democrat on the committee who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak candidly.

From Washington Post

Freshly ground cumin for dipping comes in a diminutive cut-glass dish, alongside an umami-heavy dollop of fermented spicy broad bean paste, the pair of garnishes daring you to gild the lily.

From New York Times