That takes the biscuit!
This British idiom from the late nineteenth century is used to express surprise or outrage at the annoying or selfish actions of another person. It is also used in Canada and other Commonwealth countries, apparently.
I was surprised to find that it probably derives from an older American phrase from around 1840, ‘takes the cake.’ It referred to the cakewalk, a promenade dance from Southern USA. Couples would compete and the couple judged the winners would receive a cake.
I would have thought the winners would have preferred a monetary prize, but what do I know?
The derivation reminded me of the 1969 film, ‘They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?’ It made a lasting impression on me, that people could be so poor and desperate that they would enter dance marathons for the chance of winning a cash prize.
Of the two, I would say, cake. I think most Canadians would.
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