take the cake

Etymology
Attested since. Originally used in reference to the winners of cake walk competitions in black communities of the southern USA in the 19th and early 20th centuries, who were said to have "taken the cake", which was oftentimes the prize.

Verb

 * 1)  ; to win or be the best (at).
 * Thanks! You guys take the cake.
 * Once the party was over, everyone agreed that Elizabeth and her Harriet Tubman getup had taken the cake.
 * I've seen bad grammar, but this takes the cake.

Usage notes

 * This is often used negatively, to affirm that something is deserving of the top prize for being the worst of something.

Synonyms

 * (British)
 * (British)

Translations

 * Dutch:
 * Finnish: viedä voitto
 * German:
 * Hungarian: elviszi a pálmát
 * Icelandic: taka öllu fram, hljóta fyrstu verðlaun
 * Polish: odstawać, odstać
 * Spanish:
 * Swedish: ta priset


 * Dutch:
 * Finnish: olla pohjanoteeraus, viedä voitto
 * German:, nicht mehr zu toppen sein
 * Polish: odstawać, odstać
 * Swedish: ta priset