take the gilt off the gingerbread

动词 v.
中文释义
英 /ˌteɪk ðə ˈɡɪlt ɒf ðə ˈd͡ʒɪn(d͡)ʒəbɹɛd/    美 /ˌteɪk ðə ˈɡɪlt ɔf ðə ˈd͡ʒɪnd͡ʒɚˌbɹɛd/

英文释义

动词 v.
  1. To take away the most attractive or appealing qualities of something; to destroy an illusion. idiomatic
    — If you only say the word, we shall take the gilt off the gingerbread,—you guess what I mean,—but remember that Sir Robert Walpole said, ‘every man has his price.’

词形变化

takes the gilt off the gingerbread present,singular,third-person taking the gilt off the gingerbread participle,present took the gilt off the gingerbread past taken the gilt off the gingerbread participle,past

词源

In the Middle Ages, gingerbread cakes were decorated with a thin layer of gold leaf. Without this casing, they were considered to be humble offerings, generally being little more than flavoured but stale bread.
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