Take the cake means to be the most ridiculous or outrageous example of all. People say it when the latest in a series of silly or annoying things turns out to be the worst yet. The expression is American; in Britain, people more often say take the biscuit.
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that takes the cake; take the cake (for + noun); UK: take the biscuit
- I've heard lots of excuses for being late, but 'my cat hid my keys' really takes the cake.
- Our landlord has done some strange things, but raising the rent by text on Christmas Day takes the cake.
- We had plenty of rude customers today, but the man who shouted at the cashier took the cake.
What changed
First versionI've heard many silly excuses, but this one doesn't go into any gates.
RevisionI've heard many silly excuses, but this one takes the cake.
Doesn't go into any gates is a word-for-word translation of an idiom from another language, and an English speaker won't understand it. When the latest case turns out to be the most outrageous in a series, English says takes the cake.
Don't confuse it with the icing on the cake: that idiom is about a pleasant extra to something good, while take the cake is almost always about the worst case in a series: Many drivers park badly, but this one takes the cake. In an essay, write the most extreme example instead.
Your turn
My flatmate has left dirty dishes before, but leaving a pan of burnt rice in the bath really ___.
Show the answer
takes the cake — The flatmate has left dirty dishes before, but a pan in the bath is the worst case of all, so it takes the cake. Is a piece of cake means “is very easy”, and difficulty has nothing to do with it.
Think of the most ridiculous excuse you have heard at work or during your studies. Say who came up with it and what it was.
A classmate once said his essay was late because his printer was 'on holiday', and that excuse still takes the cake.
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