IdiomFood & Drink
French
FrenchLa cerise sur le gâteau
Meaning: A final touch that completes something already good — often said sarcastically of a last straw.
Literally: The cherry on the cake
Example: “Beau temps, bon repas, et cerise sur le gâteau : un feu d'artifice !” — Nice weather, a good meal, and the icing on the cake: fireworks!
English equivalent: The icing on the cake
Equivalents in other languages
Icelandic: Rúsínan í pylsuendanum Literally: The raisin at the end of the sausage
Spanish: poner el broche de oro Literally: To put the golden clasp
Portuguese: a cereja do bolo Literally: The cherry of the cake
English: the icing on the cake
Origin: A borrowing of the American cherry on top, entering French in the later 20th century. French uses the ironic sense considerably more freely than English does.
More French idioms
- Clouer le bec à quelqu'un To silence someone completely, usually with an unanswerable reply.
- Se crêper le chignon To have a furious quarrel — said of women.
- Avoir les yeux de Chimène pour quelqu'un To be visibly smitten with someone or something.
- Se faire des cheveux blancs To worry oneself sick.
- Haut les cœurs ! Take courage; lift your spirits.
- Aux calendes grecques Never — used of something postponed indefinitely.
Explore another collection: Compliments & Insults
Compliments and insults from around the world, from the sweet to the savage.
- C'est une vraie chèvre They're hopelessly stubborn and infuriating — a goat that refuses to be moved.
- Casse-pieds A massive bore or pain in the neck — someone who wears you down with their irritating way…
- Espèce de patate You dim bulb — a potato being the very picture of inert, unthinking stodginess.
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