gild the lily
disapprovingDefinition
› to improve or decorate something that is already perfect and therefore spoil it: Should I add a scarf to this jacket or would it be gilding the lily?Damaging and spoilingDestroying and demolishing
(Definition of gild the lily from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus
© Cambridge University Press)
Browse related topics
You are looking at an entry to do with Damaging and spoiling, but you might be interested in these topics from the Breaking and damaging topic area:
- Destroying and demolishing
- Deteriorating and making worse
- Exploding and erupting
- Fragile and breakable
- Hitting against objects accidentally and colliding
- Hitting and beating
- In bad condition
- Injuring and injuries
- Scratching and rubbing
- Squeezing and grinding
- Tearing and breaking into pieces
- Undamaged, unbroken or in good condition
- Upsetting and destabilizing
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Synonyms and related words:
- adulterate verb
- at the expense of sb idiom
- bastardize verb
- be hoist(ed) with/by your own petard idiom
- bite verb (AFFECT BADLY)
- cheapen verb (RESPECT LESS)
- cost sb dear idiom
- degrade verb (SPOIL)
- do for sb/sth phrasal verb
- flaw verb
- foul (sth) up phrasal verb
- gnaw away at sth phrasal verb
- go west idiom
- harm noun
- interfere with sth phrasal verb
- punishment noun (BAD TREATMENT)
- put sth out of joint idiom
- queer verb
- rain on sb's parade idiom
- rampage verb
Topic:
Damaging and spoiling
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