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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
As far as midrange towers go, this Alienware Aurora takes the cake with its powerful processor and a graphics card sufficient for tackling most modern day titles and also 3D rendering and the like. Jade Chung-Lee, PCMAG, 12 Feb. 2025 Even with all that to choose from, Don’s penthouse apartment from season five, with its sunken living room, wood-paneling, and floor-to-ceiling windows, takes the cake. Rachel Davies, Architectural Digest, 24 Dec. 2024 All unique and well-thought-out, the well-worth-it seasonal cocktails take the cake here. Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Dec. 2024 While the bouillabaisse toast took the cake for me as the best dish of the night, the tagine romanesco was a close second. Kaitlyn Rosati, New York Daily News, 19 Feb. 2025 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

Cite this Entry

“Take the cake.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20the%20cake. Accessed 17 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on take the cake

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!