take the gilt off the gingerbread

== English == === Etymology === 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. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˌteɪk ðə ˈɡɪlt ɒf ðə ˈd͡ʒɪn(d͡)ʒəbɹɛd/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˌteɪk ðə ˈɡɪlt ɔf ðə ˈd͡ʒɪnd͡ʒɚˌbɹɛd/ Hyphenation: take the gilt off the gin‧ger‧bread === Verb === take the gilt off the gingerbread (third-person singular simple present takes the gilt off the gingerbread, present participle taking the gilt off the gingerbread, simple past took the gilt off the gingerbread, past participle taken the gilt off the gingerbread) (idiomatic) To take away the most attractive or appealing qualities of something; to destroy an illusion. ==== Translations ==== === References ===