Take the cake

Meaning

Be the most remarkable or outrageous.

Usage

Used humorously to call out extremes.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

At fairs, the best performances won a cake.

Late 19th century newspapers noted that winning the cake was the ultimate prize.