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

Kids are costly, but senior year takes the cake for eyebrow-raising expenses. —Melissa Willets, Parents, 15 Sep. 2025

Netflix has become known for creating documentaries about unbelievable true crime stories, but Unknown Number on Netflix may just take the cake. —Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 5 Sep. 2025

In a series that is admirably earnest, Last Rites easily takes the cake as the most wholesome chapter of the bunch, its insistence on God and faith teetering on religious propaganda. —Gregory Nussen, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2025

However, LeRoy and Lewis takes the cake with one Michelin star. —Amanda Ogle, Travel + Leisure, 23 Aug. 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