Results 1 to 6 of 6
Like Tree5Likes
  • 1 Post By JohnParis
  • 3 Post By BobK
  • 1 Post By Koronas

Thread: takes the cake

  1. #1
    keannu's Avatar
    keannu is offline Key Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Student or Learner
      • Native Language:
      • Korean
      • Home Country:
      • South Korea
      • Current Location:
      • South Korea
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Posts
    3,677

    Default takes the cake

    Does "take the cake" mean something best or worst done so far like the following? What are the similar expressions?

    *worst
    A:He cheated on this math exam again.
    B:He so takes the cake.

    *best
    A:This soup takes the cake.
    B:Do you want to go for another?

    rtg-96

  2. #2
    JohnParis's Avatar
    JohnParis is offline Senior Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Retired Academic
      • Native Language:
      • English
      • Home Country:
      • United States
      • Current Location:
      • France
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Posts
    776

    Default Re: takes the cake

    You're very close to the correct meaning, Keannu, but not quite 100% there. Here is a site that explains the phrase. If you read it and try two new sentences, I'll be happy to check them out.
    Take the cake
    keannu likes this.

  3. #3
    BobK's Avatar
    BobK is offline Harmless drudge
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • English Teacher
      • Native Language:
      • English
      • Home Country:
      • UK
      • Current Location:
      • UK
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Posts
    14,933

    Default Re: takes the cake

    It's worth noting that in Br Eng the more common form of this idiom is 'to take the biscuit'. (Still, that's how the cookie crumbles.)

    b
    JohnParis, bhaisahab and Tullia like this.

  4. #4
    Koronas is offline Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Other
      • Native Language:
      • English
      • Home Country:
      • England
      • Current Location:
      • Greece
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Posts
    140

    Default Re: takes the cake

    Yes, this is a US-only expression. It has no meaning in British English. In Britain we would say "that really takes the biscuit!" Mind you, it's not very commonly used nowadays.
    keannu likes this.

  5. #5
    sara mohammed awad is offline Newbie
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Student or Learner
      • Native Language:
      • Arabic
      • Home Country:
      • Egypt
      • Current Location:
      • Egypt
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Posts
    1

    Default Re: takes the cake

    take the cake means to be good or outstanding): steal the show
    (to be particularly bad or egregious): take the biscuit (British)

  6. #6
    emsr2d2's Avatar
    emsr2d2 is offline Moderator
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • English Teacher
      • Native Language:
      • British English
      • Home Country:
      • UK
      • Current Location:
      • UK
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Posts
    15,616

    Default Re: takes the cake

    I'm a Brit who uses "take the cake" a lot.

Similar Threads

  1. [Grammar] Cake or a cake
    By wotcha in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 17-Aug-2010, 11:11
  2. That takes the cake
    By rdgriskus in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 15-May-2010, 17:38
  3. [General] Any cake / whichever cake
    By jiaruchan in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 08-Feb-2010, 14:46
  4. do you have some more cake?
    By sanctuarylsw in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 15-Jun-2007, 11:15
  5. Can't have a cake and it too
    By murli_18@yahoo.com in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 08-May-2006, 16:24

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Hotchalk

Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.1