take the cake

idiomatic phrase

variants chiefly US take the cake or British take the biscuit
informal
: to win the prize : to rank first
While it didn't take the cake for the warmest Christmas on record, it was close.Krista McEnany
typically used to describe something that is very surprising, foolish, remarkable, annoying, etc.
There have been doozies in the flurry of free-agent signings … but the Giants' acquisition of quarterback Kerry Collins takes the cake.Peter King
Of all the invasions of her privacy, this one took the cake.Richard Peck
When he was quite sure that the narrative had ended he laughed noiselessly for fully half a minute. Then he said: "Well! … That takes the biscuit!"James Joyce

Examples of take the cake in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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That means the current trip takes the cake based on heading to Seattle — the opposite direction — to start, plus tacking on another three games immediately after popping back home to face the Kings. Daniel Nugent-Bowman, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025 Between Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, my team and I have covered thousands of deals — but these 20 take the cake. Maggie Horton, People.com, 2 Dec. 2024 There are a handful of sales that really take the cake during the REI After-Christmas Sale — starting with the soft and cozy The North Face Women's Denali Jacket, now just $130. Asia Palomba, Travel + Leisure, 27 Dec. 2024 Big Top Candy Shop in Austin takes the cake as the best candy store in the Lone Star State. Alexis Simmerman, Austin American-Statesman, 19 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for take the cake 

Word History

First Known Use

1847, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of take the cake was in 1847

Dictionary Entries Near take the cake

Cite this Entry

“Take the cake.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20the%20cake. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.

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