takes the cake
Surpasses all others
Takes the cake means wins the prize—usually said ironically when something is the most extreme or outrageous example of its kind.
I've seen some bad excuses, but that one takes the cake.
The expression suggests surpassing all competition, though rarely for anything admirable.
Occasionally used straightforwardly to mean the best: For sheer audacity, her performance takes the cake.
- greatestSurpassing all others
- trumpsExceeds or overpowers
- winsAchieved first places
- prevailsSucceeds in the end
- bestsDefeats or surpasses
exceeds · appalling · absurd · surpasses · outdoes · steal the show · jaw-dropping · beggars belief · cherry on top · outrageous · beyond the pale · cream of the crop · astonishing · dominates · overshadows · shocking · outstrips · tops
takes the cakeordinary
Standard, unremarkable
unremarkable · forgettable · run-of-the-mill · nothing special · par for the course
takes the cakefalls short
Fails to meet standard
second-rate · middling · also-ran · mediocre · underwhelming
take, takes, taken, taking, taker, takers, cake, cakes, caked