Take the cake
Meaning: To be the most remarkable, outrageous, or extreme example of something.
Usually used to describe something that stands out for being especially bad, outrageous, or surprising. If someone's rude behavior 'takes the cake,' it's the worst behavior you've seen. Occasionally used positively, but more often for negative extremes.
Examples
- I've heard some bad excuses, but that one takes the cake. 奇葩的借口我听过不少,但那个绝对是最离谱的。He oído excusas malísimas, pero esa se lleva la palma.ひどい言い訳は色々聞いたけど、あれは断トツだよ。형편없는 변명은 많이 들어봤지만, 저건 단연 최고야.
- Her costume at the party really took the cake — everyone was talking about it. 她在派对上的装扮绝对是全场焦点——所有人都在讨论。Su disfraz en la fiesta se llevó la palma: todo el mundo hablaba de él.パーティーでの彼女の仮装は群を抜いていた——みんな話題にしていた。파티에서 그녀의 의상은 단연 돋보였어 — 모두가 화제로 삼았다.
- For terrible customer service, that experience takes the cake. 说到糟糕的客户服务,那次体验绝对是最差的。En cuanto a pésimo servicio al cliente, esa experiencia se lleva la palma.ひどいカスタマーサービスの中でも、あの体験はダントツだ。형편없는 고객 서비스 중에서도 그 경험은 단연 최악이다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: exasperation, stories, comparisons
Tone: exasperated, incredulous
✓ Do Say
- That really takes the cake.那真的是太离谱了。Eso se lleva la palma.That really takes the cake.(あれは本当に群を抜いているよ。)그건 정말 단연코야.
- I've seen a lot, but this takes the cake.我见过很多了,但这次真的是登峰造极。He visto de todo, pero esto se lleva la palma.I've seen a lot, but this takes the cake.(色々見てきたけど、これはダントツだ。)많이 봤지만, 이건 진짜 최고야.
✗ Don't Say
- The racial history of the cakewalk is worth knowing — be aware of the cultural contextcakewalk的种族历史背景值得了解——注意其文化语境Vale la pena conocer la historia racial del cakewalk: ten presente el contexto culturalケークウォークの人種的な歴史は知っておく価値がある——文化的背景を意識しよう케이크워크(cakewalk)의 인종적 역사를 알아둘 필요가 있다 — 문화적 맥락을 의식하자
Origin & History
From the 'cakewalk,' a competitive dance originated by enslaved African Americans in the American South. The most stylish dancers won a cake as a prize. The phrase 'take the cake' meaning 'to win' evolved to mean 'to be the most extreme example.'
Cultural Context
Era: 1800s-present
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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