taking the gilt off the gingerbread

A form of take the gilt off the gingerbread — To take away the most attractive or appealing qualities of something; to destroy an illusion.

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Meanings

verb
  1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of take the gilt off the gingerbread
Cite this entry
APA

taking the gilt off the gingerbread. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/taking%20the%20gilt%20off%20the%20gingerbread

MLA

“taking the gilt off the gingerbread.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/taking%20the%20gilt%20off%20the%20gingerbread. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “taking the gilt off the gingerbread,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/taking%20the%20gilt%20off%20the%20gingerbread.

Source: taking the gilt off the gingerbread on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.