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    What does the term "Guilding a Lily" mean and where does it come from?

    Question #69114. Asked by teash. (Aug 01 06 8:19 AM)


    Gnomon

    		"Gilding the lily" means spending time making unnecesary additions to something that is already complete. It comes from the idea of gilding, that is, adding a thin layer of gold to, a lily to make it beautiful, when a lily is already beautiful.

    http://www.thefreedictionary.com/gilding+the+lily

    Aug 01 06, 8:48 AM
    DerekT

    		Gilding the lily could mean "unnecessary improvement/beautification".

    Aug 01 06, 8:48 AM
    lanfranco

    		To guard a title that was rich before,
    To gild refined gold, to paint the lily,
    To throw perfume on the violet,
    To smooth the ice, or add another hue
    Unto the rainbow, or with taper-light
    To seek the beauteous eye of heaven to garnish,
    Is wasteful and ridiculous excess.

    William Shakespeare,
    "The Life and Death of King John,"
    Act IV, scene ii.

    Aug 01 06, 10:52 AM

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