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

In terms of the emotional stamina, that takes the cake for the biggest challenge. —Greg Evans, Deadline, 23 May 2025

My head is already black and blue from banging it on the desk these last 100 days, but this one takes the cake. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 2025

The United States Department of Veterans Affairs takes the cake as the creepiest agency, routinely filming and recording patients (and doctors) without their consent. —Ross Marchand, Baltimore Sun, 7 May 2025

In the San Francisco metro area, Safeway takes the cake. —Shawna Chen, Axios, 28 Apr. 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