lily

Related to lily: peony

gild the lily

To further adorn something that is already beautiful. You look radiant, as always—wearing such an extravagant gown is just gilding the lily.

See also: gild, lily

knock the dew off the lily

euphemism Of a man, to urinate. Excuse me a moment, I just need to go knock the dew off the lily.

lily-livered

Cowardly or fearful. I'm not surprised that Tom didn't come to the rally—he's too lily-livered to defend his beliefs in public.

lily-white

1. Pure white in color. The locals were absolutely fascinated with our lily-white skin.

2. Strait-laced; totally honest. You're being naïve if you think the top business people are lily white.

3. Consisting solely or primarily of white people. He'd always lived in lily-white towns, so he felt a bit out of place when he moved to a city with a large black community.

paint the lily

To add embellishment to something that is already beautiful or outstanding. The phrase comes from Shakespeare's King John: "To gild refined gold, to paint the lily ... is wasteful and ridiculous excess." My wife is so gorgeous that putting her in a fancy gown would just be painting the lily. Why add a filter to your photo of the rainbow? No need to paint the lily.

shake the dew off the lily

euphemism To urinate. Said of or by a man. Excuse me a moment, I just need to go shake the dew off the lily.

gild the lily

Fig. to add ornament or decoration to something that is pleasing in its original state; to attempt to improve something that is already fine the way it is. (Often refers to flattery or exaggeration.) Your house has lovely brickwork. Don't paint it. That would be gilding the lily. Oh, Sally. You're beautiful the way you are. You don't need makeup. You would be gilding the lily.

See also: gild, lily

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

gild the lily

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]

See also: gild, lily

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

gild the lily

If someone gilds the lily, they try to improve something which is already very good, and so what they are doing is unnecessary. There can be a temptation to gild the lily in such documents, making exaggerated claims about what the school can offer to students. Top the cake with ice cream or whipped cream, if you're keen on gilding the lily. Note: This expression may be based on lines in Shakespeare's `King John' (1595): `To gild refined gold, to paint the lily... Is wasteful and ridiculous excess.' (Act 4, Scene 2)

See also: gild, lily

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

gild the lily

try to improve what is already beautiful or excellent.

This phrase adapts lines from Shakespeare's King John: ‘To gild refined gold, to paint the lily…Is wasteful and ridiculous excess’.

See also: gild, lily

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

gild the ˈlily

try to improve something which is already perfect, and so spoil it: The dress is perfect. Don’t add anything to it at all. It would just be gilding the lily.This comes from Shakespeare’s play King John. Gild means ‘to cover something with a thin layer of gold’. A lily is a very beautiful flower.

See also: gild, lily

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

knock the dew off the lily

and shake the dew off the lily

phr. [for a male] to urinate, especially first thing in the morning. (The dew is urine.) He’s up and into the bathroom, knocking the dew off the lily long before I even get my eyes open. I gotta go shake the dew off the lily before I explode.

shake the dew off the lily

verb

See knock the dew off the lily

lily-livered

mod. cowardly. That lily-livered guy is up hiding under his bed till this blows over.

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

gild the lily

1. To adorn unnecessarily something already beautiful.

2. To make superfluous additions to what is already complete.

See also: gild, lily

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.

gild the lily, to

To add excessive ornament; to pile excess on excess. This term is a condensation of Shakespeare’s statement in King John (4.2), “To gild refined gold, to paint the lily . . . is wasteful and ridiculous excess.” Earlier (sixteenth-century) versions of this idea cited whitening ivory with ink (Erasmus, Adagia) and painting fine marble (George Pettie, Petite Pallace). Byron quoted Shakespeare correctly (“But Shakespeare also says, ’tis very silly to gild refined gold, or paint the lily”), in Don Juan (1818), but sometime during the succeeding years it became the cliché we now know.

gild the lily

Engage in an unnecessary and usually wasteful activity. Like carrying coals to Newcastle, to gild a lily would be a waste of time as the flower already possesses more than sufficient beauty. The phrase comes from a misquotation of lines from Shakespeare's King John: Therefore, to be possess'd with double pomp, To guard a title that was rich before, To gild refined gold, to paint the lily . . . Is wasteful and ridiculous excess.

See also: gild, lily

Endangered Phrases by Steven D. Price

See also:

gild the lily
gild the lily, to
gilding
paint the lily
no expense is spared
spare no expense
spare no expense/pains/trouble doing something
adorn (someone or something) with (something)
adorn with
top with

References in periodicals archive

of of five days, she 'Watching Lily dance, you would have no idea she could barely use one arm' But still and Mix last ' 'I could tell by the look on the consultant's face that she was worried'

'Even cancer can't stop our amazing dancing queen!' When nine-year-old Lily Douglas was given the bombshell news that she had an extremely rare and aggressive cancer, her family's world was turned upside down

The new version of Lily introduces Group DNA, which allows marketers to understand customers at both an individual and group level (e.g.

NGDATA enhances Lily customer data platform

Lily accepted the Award with gracious humility, noting that there is much to be done to bring love and peace throughout the world.

Producer Actor Lily Lisa Recipient of Arts 4 Peace Award

Sixteen-year-old narrator Lily Michaels-Ryan has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Creedle, Laura. The Love Letters of Abelard and Lily

Over the past three years Vets Now has treated at least 413 cats for lily poisoning.

Lilies can kill cats; DIRE WARNING FROM EMERGENCY VETERINARY SURGEONS

Now, after the closing of the museum, she began stirring up thoughts of Lily. This time, Jane was more determined than ever to find Lily, N, or, at least, herself.

Aislinn Hunter. The World Before Us

This lily figures in Christian art too, in many Renaissance paintings of the Virgin Mary and is known as the Madonna lily.

CONSIDER THE LILIES; THEY ARE SURELY THE MOST GLAMOROUS OF FLOWERS AND MOST COMBINE WONDROUS COLOURS AND PATTERNS

This lily figures in Christian art, too, in many Renaissance paintings of the Virgin Mary and is known as the Madonna lily.

Flowers with a colourful past ... and future; Pure, graceful and with a heavenly perfume, fill big pots with lilies to bring a splash of colour and an exotic feel to your whole garden

Twelve-year-old Lily is thoughtful and bright but needs an extra push to unleash her imagination and individuality.

A Handful of Stars

ANYONE who has seen her as Downton Abbey firecracker Lady Rose MacClare would struggle to see why Lily James auditioned as an ugly sister in upcoming film Cinderella.

LILYSTOOD OUTASTHE GIRLWITH THEDRIVE ANDTALENT TOACHIEVE HERDREAM; DREAM ROLE RISE OF BRIT ACTRESS IS THE STUFF F Cinderella star on making the leap from television to film

Mitchell Pritchett, Cam Tucker and their daughter Lily headed over to the Dunphy's but they had to deal with some major parenting issues along the way.

'Modern Family' Recap: Mitch And Cam Dress Up In Drag For Thanksgiving Dinner

Stepping into the limelight today is Lily James, 10, who was put forward by her impressed teachers at Overchurch Junior School in Wirral.

Lovely Lily is a star performer; Pupil of the Week

But part of the fun of gardening is making new plants, and even a single lily plant offers a few avenues to this goal.

Turn lilies into more lilies

LITTLE Lily Willis has got the best new year's start after getting the all-clear from cancer.

Schoolgirl is given tumour all-clear; Youngster, nine, on her feet again after bone cancer battle

词组	lily
释义	lily Related to lily: peony gild the lily To further adorn something that is already beautiful. You look radiant, as always—wearing such an extravagant gown is just gilding the lily. See also: gild, lily knock the dew off the lily euphemism Of a man, to urinate. Excuse me a moment, I just need to go knock the dew off the lily. See also: dew, knock, lily, off lily-livered Cowardly or fearful. I'm not surprised that Tom didn't come to the rally—he's too lily-livered to defend his beliefs in public. lily-white 1. Pure white in color. The locals were absolutely fascinated with our lily-white skin. 2. Strait-laced; totally honest. You're being naïve if you think the top business people are lily white. 3. Consisting solely or primarily of white people. He'd always lived in lily-white towns, so he felt a bit out of place when he moved to a city with a large black community. paint the lily To add embellishment to something that is already beautiful or outstanding. The phrase comes from Shakespeare's King John: "To gild refined gold, to paint the lily ... is wasteful and ridiculous excess." My wife is so gorgeous that putting her in a fancy gown would just be painting the lily. Why add a filter to your photo of the rainbow? No need to paint the lily. See also: lily, paint shake the dew off the lily euphemism To urinate. Said of or by a man. Excuse me a moment, I just need to go shake the dew off the lily. See also: dew, lily, off, shake Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. gild the lily Fig. to add ornament or decoration to something that is pleasing in its original state; to attempt to improve something that is already fine the way it is. (Often refers to flattery or exaggeration.) Your house has lovely brickwork. Don't paint it. That would be gilding the lily. Oh, Sally. You're beautiful the way you are. You don't need makeup. You would be gilding the lily. See also: gild, lily McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. gild the lily 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] See also: gild, lily The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. gild the lily If someone gilds the lily, they try to improve something which is already very good, and so what they are doing is unnecessary. There can be a temptation to gild the lily in such documents, making exaggerated claims about what the school can offer to students. Top the cake with ice cream or whipped cream, if you're keen on gilding the lily. Note: This expression may be based on lines in Shakespeare's `King John' (1595): `To gild refined gold, to paint the lily... Is wasteful and ridiculous excess.' (Act 4, Scene 2) See also: gild, lily Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. gild the lily try to improve what is already beautiful or excellent. This phrase adapts lines from Shakespeare's King John: ‘To gild refined gold, to paint the lily…Is wasteful and ridiculous excess’. See also: gild, lily Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary gild the ˈlily try to improve something which is already perfect, and so spoil it: The dress is perfect. Don’t add anything to it at all. It would just be gilding the lily.This comes from Shakespeare’s play King John. Gild means ‘to cover something with a thin layer of gold’. A lily is a very beautiful flower. See also: gild, lily Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary knock the dew off the lily and shake the dew off the lily phr. [for a male] to urinate, especially first thing in the morning. (The dew is urine.) He’s up and into the bathroom, knocking the dew off the lily long before I even get my eyes open. I gotta go shake the dew off the lily before I explode. See also: dew, knock, lily, off shake the dew off the lily verb See knock the dew off the lily See also: dew, lily, off, shake lily-livered mod. cowardly. That lily-livered guy is up hiding under his bed till this blows over. McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions gild the lily 1. To adorn unnecessarily something already beautiful. 2. To make superfluous additions to what is already complete. See also: gild, lily American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. gild the lily, to To add excessive ornament; to pile excess on excess. This term is a condensation of Shakespeare’s statement in King John (4.2), “To gild refined gold, to paint the lily . . . is wasteful and ridiculous excess.” Earlier (sixteenth-century) versions of this idea cited whitening ivory with ink (Erasmus, Adagia) and painting fine marble (George Pettie, Petite Pallace). Byron quoted Shakespeare correctly (“But Shakespeare also says, ’tis very silly to gild refined gold, or paint the lily”), in Don Juan (1818), but sometime during the succeeding years it became the cliché we now know. See also: gild The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer gild the lily Engage in an unnecessary and usually wasteful activity. Like carrying coals to Newcastle, to gild a lily would be a waste of time as the flower already possesses more than sufficient beauty. The phrase comes from a misquotation of lines from Shakespeare's King John: Therefore, to be possess'd with double pomp, To guard a title that was rich before, To gild refined gold, to paint the lily . . . Is wasteful and ridiculous excess. See also: gild, lily Endangered Phrases by Steven D. Price See also: gild the lily gild the lily, to gilding paint the lily no expense is spared spare no expense spare no expense/pains/trouble doing something adorn (someone or something) with (something) adorn with top with References in periodicals archive of of five days, she 'Watching Lily dance, you would have no idea she could barely use one arm' But still and Mix last ' 'I could tell by the look on the consultant's face that she was worried' 'Even cancer can't stop our amazing dancing queen!' When nine-year-old Lily Douglas was given the bombshell news that she had an extremely rare and aggressive cancer, her family's world was turned upside down The new version of Lily introduces Group DNA, which allows marketers to understand customers at both an individual and group level (e.g. NGDATA enhances Lily customer data platform Lily accepted the Award with gracious humility, noting that there is much to be done to bring love and peace throughout the world. Producer Actor Lily Lisa Recipient of Arts 4 Peace Award Sixteen-year-old narrator Lily Michaels-Ryan has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Creedle, Laura. The Love Letters of Abelard and Lily Over the past three years Vets Now has treated at least 413 cats for lily poisoning. Lilies can kill cats; DIRE WARNING FROM EMERGENCY VETERINARY SURGEONS Now, after the closing of the museum, she began stirring up thoughts of Lily. This time, Jane was more determined than ever to find Lily, N, or, at least, herself. Aislinn Hunter. The World Before Us This lily figures in Christian art too, in many Renaissance paintings of the Virgin Mary and is known as the Madonna lily. CONSIDER THE LILIES; THEY ARE SURELY THE MOST GLAMOROUS OF FLOWERS AND MOST COMBINE WONDROUS COLOURS AND PATTERNS This lily figures in Christian art, too, in many Renaissance paintings of the Virgin Mary and is known as the Madonna lily. Flowers with a colourful past ... and future; Pure, graceful and with a heavenly perfume, fill big pots with lilies to bring a splash of colour and an exotic feel to your whole garden Twelve-year-old Lily is thoughtful and bright but needs an extra push to unleash her imagination and individuality. A Handful of Stars ANYONE who has seen her as Downton Abbey firecracker Lady Rose MacClare would struggle to see why Lily James auditioned as an ugly sister in upcoming film Cinderella. LILYSTOOD OUTASTHE GIRLWITH THEDRIVE ANDTALENT TOACHIEVE HERDREAM; DREAM ROLE RISE OF BRIT ACTRESS IS THE STUFF F Cinderella star on making the leap from television to film Mitchell Pritchett, Cam Tucker and their daughter Lily headed over to the Dunphy's but they had to deal with some major parenting issues along the way. 'Modern Family' Recap: Mitch And Cam Dress Up In Drag For Thanksgiving Dinner Stepping into the limelight today is Lily James, 10, who was put forward by her impressed teachers at Overchurch Junior School in Wirral. Lovely Lily is a star performer; Pupil of the Week But part of the fun of gardening is making new plants, and even a single lily plant offers a few avenues to this goal. Turn lilies into more lilies LITTLE Lily Willis has got the best new year's start after getting the all-clear from cancer. Schoolgirl is given tumour all-clear; Youngster, nine, on her feet again after bone cancer battle
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