gild the lily

verb (inf=to gild the lily, gilds the lily, gilding the lily, gilded the lily)

1. (intransitive) To embellish something that does not need it.
2. (intransitive) To add unnecessary bells and whistles.

Etymology: A common misquotation of a line from William Shakespeare; William Shakespeare's 1595 play The Life and Death of King John, King John, iv 2: "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, or with taper-light to seek the beauteous eye of heaven to garnish, is wasteful and ridiculous excess."