What is the meaning of the idiom to take the cake?
Definition of take the cake 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.
Is take the cake slang?
Originally, to take the cake meant to win a prize or a competition — people as far back as the ancient Greeks used the word cake to mean “a symbolic prize.” Over time, it grew to have a more negative, sarcastic meaning in English: “I can’t believe this mess.
What is take the cake on the vacation an example of?
Summary. The idiom takes the cake is a superlative expression that means the best (or worst) example of something, or the most extreme example of something.
What does takes the biscuit mean?
stupid
If someone has done something very stupid, rude, or selfish, you can say that they take the biscuit or that what they have done takes the biscuit, to emphasize your surprise at their behaviour. [British, emphasis]regional note: in AM, use take the cake.
How do you use takes the cake in a sentence?
to be especially annoying, surprising, etc. or to be the worst or best of its kind: And you say she’s opening your letters now? Oh, that takes the cake! All of the reviews were bad, but hers took the cake.
Where does the phrase takes the cake come from?
The term take the cake is derived from the cakewalk. A cakewalk was a competitive dance performed by black slaves which mocked the over-refined manners that plantation owners employed at their formal balls. The winner or winning couple of these competitions was awarded a cake.
Have your cake and eat it meaning?
: to have or enjoy the good parts of something without having or dealing with the bad parts They seem to think they can have their cake and eat it too by having excellent schools for their son without paying high taxes.
What does top the cake mean?
(also the cherry on (top of) the sundae, the cherry on top) something that makes something that is already good even better, or perfect: For his career, the Olympic Games would be the cherry on the cake. He put the cherry on top of the cake by scoring for the third time.
What means cut the mustard?
to succeed
To cut the mustard is “to reach or surpass the desired standard or performance” or more generally “to succeed, to have the ability to do something.” For instance, Beyoncé really cut the mustard in her new song.
Where does upset the apple cart come from?
Spoil carefully laid plans, as in Now don’t upset the applecart by revealing where we’re going. This expression started out as upset the cart, used since Roman times to mean “spoil everything.” The precise idiom dates from the late 1700s.
What does take the crown mean?
Verb. To triumph or achieve victory in. win. prevail.
What does the idiom take the cake mean?
This one certainly takes the cake. – USA Today The idiom takes the cake is a superlative expression that means the best (or worst) example of something, or the most extreme example of something.
What does the phrase’take the cake’mean?
What’s the meaning of the phrase ‘Take the cake’? Carry off the honours. Sometimes used to express incredulity; for example, “That’s three goals he’s missed in one game. If that don’t take the cake…”.
What is the meaning of a piece of cake?
A Piece Of Cake 1 Meaning: something that is easy to do. 2 Synonyms: As easy as pie 3 Use In A Sentence: Oh, it’s a piece of cake, just follow the instructions on the screen.
What is the origin of the expression “I won the cake”?
The first possibility is quite old, and puts the origin at around the year 400 B.C. Ancient Greeks used this expression to show victory or prize winning. Apparently, in ancient Greece, a cake was awarded to whoever best stayed awake during the all-night party.