# put a hat on a hat

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/put-a-hat-on-a-hat
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To do something unnecessary, to go over the top

## Examples

- That extra decoration is just putting a hat on a hat.
- The presentation was already perfect, so adding more slides was just putting a hat on a hat.
- By adding unnecessary flourishes to an already elegant design, the architect was merely putting a hat on a hat, obscuring the original vision.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.