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

The warehouse store is beloved for its muffins and pies, but their new croissant pinwheel might take the cake. —Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 12 Jan. 2025

Hope, played by Kristian Alfonso, might just take the cake for most extravagant headpiece! —Alexandra Schonfeld, People.com, 8 Dec. 2024

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

Word History

First Known Use

1847, in the meaning defined above