Quick English: Cake Idioms

Cake is very popular dessert food in English speaking countries. There are many varieities and variations, and it's eaten at many types of celebrations, from birthdays to Christmas to weddings. Cake is so well-loved that it is even used in several English language idioms!

Here are some popular cake idioms:

to take the cake -- to be especially good or bad

Everyone at the party agreed that Sarah's beautiful decorations took the cake.

or...  I've seen bad movies, but this takes the cake!

piece of cake -- something that is very easy

"Our English homework yesterday was a piece of cake!"

icing on the cake -- something good that is added to something that is already good

She was happy to meet George Clooney, but getting a photo with him was icing on the cake.

have your cake and eat it too -- to have two things that you cannot have at the same time. (For example, to still have a piece of cake after eating it.)

You have to either use the money to buy a new television or fix your car. You can't have your cake and eat it too.

a cakewalk  -- something that is very easy to do

Last night's homework was a cakewalk!

Can you think of any other cake idioms? Is there any food in your language that shows up in many idioms?

If you like to talk about food, check out our fun food idioms illustration. It will make you hungry to learn English!