take the cake

English

Etymology

Attested since circa 1870. Originally used in reference to the winners of cake walk competitions in black communities of the southern USA in the 19th and early 20th centuries, who were said to have "taken the cake", which was oftentimes the prize.

Pronunciation

• Audio (US)

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Verb

take the cake (third-person singular simple present takes the cake, present participle taking the cake, simple past took the cake, past participle taken the cake)

1. (idiomatic, colloquial, chiefly US) Used as an affirmation or accolade when one is deemed the top position in a comparison or contest; to win or be the best (at).

   Thanks! You guys take the cake.

   Once the party was over, everyone agreed that Elizabeth and her Harriet Tubman getup had taken the cake.

   I've seen bad grammar, but this takes the cake.

Usage notes

• This is often used negatively, to affirm that something is deserving of the top prize for being the worst of something.

Synonyms

• (to be good or outstanding): steal the show
• (to be particularly bad or egregious): take the biscuit (British)

Translations

to be especially good

• Dutch: de kroon spannen (nl)
• Finnish: viedä voitto
• German: den Vogel abschießen (de)
• Hungarian: elviszi a pálmát
• Icelandic: taka öllu fram, hljóta fyrstu verðlaun
• Polish: odstawać impf, odstać pf
• Spanish: llevarse la palma (es)
• Swedish: ta priset

to be especially bad

• Dutch: de kroon spannen (nl)
• Finnish: olla pohjanoteeraus, viedä voitto
• German: den Vogel abschießen (de), nicht mehr zu toppen sein
• Polish: odstawać impf, odstać pf
• Swedish: ta priset