gild the lily Gild the lily字面意思是“给百合花镀金”。这种表达方式来自戏剧大师莎士比亚。他在历史剧《约翰王》中写道： To gild refined gold, to paint the lily, to throw a perfume on the violet, to smooth the ice, or add another hue unto the rainbow……is wasteful and ridiculous excess. 给金子镀上金箔，给百合涂上颜色，给紫罗兰洒香水，把冰磨光滑，给彩虹添颜色，是多此一举的。后来，paint the lily就演变成了gild the lily。 to improve or decorate something that is already perfect and therefore spoil it 画蛇添足，多此一举 例： Should I add a scarf to this jacket or would it be gilding the lily? 穿上这件外套我再配条围巾好吗?不会显得画蛇添足吧?