take the cake en · VERB
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
Etymology
Attested since circa 1870. Originally used in reference to the winners of cake walk competitions in black communities of the southern USA in the 19th and early 20th centuries, who were said to have "taken the cake", which was oftentimes the prize.
Meanings
-
(US, colloquial, idiomatic) Used as an affirmation or accolade of someone occupying the top rank in a comparison or contest; to win or be the best (at).
Once the party was over, everyone agreed that Elizabeth and her Harriet Tubman getup had taken the cake.
I've seen bad grammar, but this takes the cake.
Thanks! You guys take the cake.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| took the cake | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| takes the cake | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| taken the cake | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| taking the cake | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic |
Synonyms
steal the show (to be good or outstanding) · take the biscuit (to be particularly bad or egregious)
Translations (18)
is hljóta fyrstu verðlaun (to be especially good) · fi viedä voitto (to be especially bad) · nl de kroon spannen (to be especially bad) · pl odstać (to be especially good) · fi viedä voitto (to be especially good) · is taka öllu fram (to be especially good) · sv ta priset (to be especially bad) · nl de kroon spannen (to be especially good) · de nicht mehr zu toppen sein (to be especially bad) · sv ta priset (to be especially good) · fi olla pohjanoteeraus (to be especially bad) · pl odstać (to be especially bad) · de den Vogel abschießen (to be especially good) · es llevarse la palma (to be especially good) · hu elviszi a pálmát (to be especially good) · pl odstawać (to be especially bad) · de den Vogel abschießen (to be especially bad) · pl odstawać (to be especially good)