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

But now, a listing for a property in the Washington, DC area has taken the cake. —Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 18 Feb. 2026

The macro design might just take the cake for easiest approach. —Christina Perrier, InStyle, 16 Feb. 2026

If Censori had been the most different person in private than in public to date, Ye has now taken the cake and gotten it all over his black suede handwear. —Anna Peele, Vanity Fair, 6 Feb. 2026

All unique and well-thought-out, the well-worth-it seasonal cocktails take the cake here. —Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026

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