leave the bone alone

Avoid overworking, overdoing, or wearing out the object of your effort, especially in regards to artistic pursuits; avoid gilding the lily.

"Man, you know, these young guys, they know all the modes, they know all the chords, they can play high and low and fast, and they can do amazing things, but the one thing they don’t know how to do is leave the bone alone."
-- Saxophonist Gerry Mulligan

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