take the cake
Meaning: To outdo; to exceed normal behavior; metaphorically, to win the prize.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Category: Food & Drink
Origin: The expression is often used to express one's shock at impolite or bad behavior. The shocking behavior is usually something that surpasses some previous bad behavior. It is usually used in the present simple tense and infrequently in the past tense.
More idioms — Food & Drink
- upset the apple cart — To disturb the status quo; to shake up the existing situation.
- Tomber dans les pommes — Suddenly losing consciousness — possibly derived from the older expression 'être dans les…
- Avoir la moutarde qui monte au nez — To be getting angry.
- Pédaler dans la semoule — To be confused and getting nowhere.
- Raconter des salades — To tell lies or tall tales.
- En faire tout un fromage — To make a big deal out of nothing.
More English idioms
- albatross around one's neck — Something or someone that is a burden and difficult to get rid of.
- armed to the teeth — Well-equipped with weapons.
- go back to square one — Return to the beginning.
- go back to the drawing board — Return to the planning stage of a project.
- have one's back to the wall — To be in a difficult or desperate situation.
- back-seat driver — A person who gives driving orders when he/she is not the driver.
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