gold plate

Noun

 * 1) A thin layer of gold applied to the surface of an object, often by an electrolytic method.

Verb

 * 1) To apply gold plate to an object, to plate with gold.
 * 2)  To incorporate costly or otherwise excessive features or refinements unnecessarily, to overengineer.
 * 3)  To embellish, to extend beyond its intended scope, especially so as to become stifling, or rigid and inflexible.
 * 1)  To embellish, to extend beyond its intended scope, especially so as to become stifling, or rigid and inflexible.
 * 1)  To embellish, to extend beyond its intended scope, especially so as to become stifling, or rigid and inflexible.
 * 1)  To embellish, to extend beyond its intended scope, especially so as to become stifling, or rigid and inflexible.

Usage notes
The sense relating to laws and regulations is particularly used in relation to European Union directives