the icing on the cake
/ði ˈaɪsɪŋ ɒn ðə ˈkeɪk/NEUTRAL · B2
Meaning
something extra that makes a good situation even better
Examples
- 1We won the match, and meeting the players afterwards was the icing on the cake.
- 2The new job pays well, and the four-day week is the icing on the cake.
- 3The hotel was lovely, and the free upgrade to a sea view was the icing on the cake.
- 4Passing my driving test felt great, but getting a car for my birthday was the icing on the cake.
- 5After such a good year at work, a surprise bonus would be the icing on the cake.
Grammar
Usually after be. Keep the before both nouns. American English also has the frosting on the cake.
More idioms about food
All 20 idioms and the topic quiz →sell like hot cakesto be bought quickly by a lot of peoplewalk on eggshellsto be very careful not to upset someonemake your mouth waterto create a strong desire to eat through the sight, smell or thought of foodput all your eggs in one basketto rely completely on a single plan or chancebite off more than you can chewto try to do more than you are able to managehave your cake and eat itto get two advantages that are usually impossible to combine
English Idioms400 idioms in 20 topics — with reviews that keep them from fading
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