take the cake

take the cake (third-person singular simple present takes the cake, present participle taking the cake, simple past took the cake, past participle taken the cake)

1. (colloquial, US) To be especially good or outstanding.

   Thanks! You guys take the cake.

   Once the party was over, everyone agreed that Elizabeth and her Harriet Tubman getup had taken the cake.

2. (colloquial, US) To be particularly bad, objectionable, or egregious.

   I've seen bad grammar, but this takes the cake.

• (to be good or outstanding): steal the show
• (to be particularly bad or egregious): take the biscuit (British)