Gilded cage
To be like “a bird in a gilded cage” is to live in luxury but without freedom: “Because the movie star could not go out without being recognized and pursued, she stayed in her penthouse, living like a bird in a gilded cage.”
The encumbrances or limitations that often accompany material wealth, as in She had furs, jewelry, whatever money could buy, but was trapped in a gilded cage. This metaphoric expression indicating that riches cannot buy happiness was popularized (and possibly coined) in a song, “A Bird in a Gilded Cage” (1990; lyrics by Arthur J. Lamb, music by Harry von Tilzer), about a young girl marrying for wealth instead of love and paying for luxury with a life of regret.
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[gild-hawl] /ˈgɪldˌhɔl/ noun 1. . [gild-hawl] /ˈgɪldˌhɔl/ noun 1. (in Britain) the hall built or used by a guild or corporation for its assemblies; town hall. /ˈɡɪldˌhɔːl/ noun 1. (Brit) 2. Also gildhall. the meeting place of a medieval guild
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[gil-ding] /ˈgɪl dɪŋ/ noun 1. the application of . 2. the gold leaf or other material with which something is . 3. the golden surface produced by the application of . 4. something used to create a deceptively pleasing, impressive, or alluring aspect or character. [gild] /gɪld/ verb (used with object), gilded or gilt, gilding. […]
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[gil-ee-uh-dahyt] /ˈgɪl i əˌdaɪt/ noun 1. a member of a branch of the Israelite tribe descended from Manasseh. 2. an inhabitant of ancient . /ˈɡɪlɪəˌdaɪt/ noun 1. an inhabitant of the region of Gilead 2. a descendant of Gilead (the man)