In the following sentence, a phrase has been underlined. You are required to replace it with the most appropriate idiom. Excessive justification in the report threatened entirely to spoil what was already attractive during the final evaluation process.
to take the gilt off the gingerbread
“To take the gilt off the gingerbread” means to spoil the attractive or pleasing part of something; gingerbread was once decorated with gold leaf (gilt), and removing it took away its charm.
This matches the underlined phrase “to spoil what was already attractive”: the over-justification threatened to ruin an appealing report.
“To drop like flies” means to fall ill or die in large numbers; “sour grapes” refers to disparaging what one cannot have; “to throw the baby out with the bathwater” means discarding something valuable while getting rid of something unwanted. None of these means spoiling what was attractive.
Hence, the answer is to take the gilt off the gingerbread.
Similar Questions
Select the most appropriate idiom to substitute the underlined group of words in the given sentence.
The constitutional bench remained in a state of prolonged and barely concealed nervous suspense as the Chief Justice began reading the judgment that could potentially overturn decades of judicial precedent.
Important Questions from Phrase Replacement
Select the most appropriate option to substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. If there is no need to substitute it, No substitution required.
Not knowing the language and having no acquaintances in the city, he found it hard getting work.
Select the most appropriate option to substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. If there is no need to substitute it, select option No substitution required.
We had been almost halfway there when the left rear tyre blew out
Select the most appropriate option to substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. If there is no need to substitute it, select option No substitution required.
The man spent a lot because he had so large amount of money.
Select the most appropriate option to substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. If there is no need to substitute it, select ‘No improvement’.
In the past, promises have been made, kept, and broken, and they are being make yet again.
Select the most appropriate option to substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. If there is no need to substitute it, select ‘No improvement’.
September is one of the busiest months of the year, with a range of different tasks at hand
