画が蛇だ添てん足そく

noun

unnecessary addition; gilding the lily

A yojijukugo meaning to ruin something by adding an unnecessary extra touch, from a Chinese fable about drawing a snake and adding legs. Used to criticize superfluous improvements.

• 彼かれの提てい案あんは画が蛇だ添てん足そくだ。

  His suggestion is an unnecessary addition.

• この説せつ明めいは画が蛇だ添てん足そくで、かえってわかりにくくなっている。

  This explanation is gilding the lily and actually makes it harder to understand.