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

Of all the wild things that have happened in airports or on flights, this may take the cake…or cheese, more appropriately. —Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 24 Oct. 2024

In the Big Apple, Double Chicken Please takes the cake at No. 14 (dropping from No. 2 last year). —Tori Latham, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2024

Cheesy Garlic Bread won in 2012, Kettle-Cooked Wasabi Ginger took the cake in 2014, Southern Biscuits and Gravy was crowned in 2015 and Crispy Taco was the top dog in 2017. —Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 16 Oct. 2024

Stuart Weitzman Palmer Bold loafers $495 $371 AMAZON This season, minimal loafers for everyday are taking the cake, and these are both bold and subdued. —Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1847, in the meaning defined above