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

Still, a recent move by the governor may take the cake in the creativity department for ways to keep the people’s business away from the people. —The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 4 Apr. 2025

When adjusted for inflation, the year 2006 still takes the cake. —Jeanne Sahadi, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2025

Stanley Hudson, Angela Martin, and Karen Filippelli As far as being antisocial is concerned, Stanley Hudson takes the cake. —Lisa Stardust, People.com, 24 Mar. 2025

Eve might take the cake for the soft life queen as the rapper is often fabulously jet-setting worldwide. —Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 25 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1847, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for take the cake

• radiopaque
• ache
• ake
• bake
• brake
• break
• craik
• crake
• fake
• flake
• hake
• jake