英语词汇take the cake的起源、历史背景-英语词源词典

take the cake; cakewalk. Cakes have been awarded as prizes since classical times, so when slaves on southern plantations held dance contests to help a needy neighbor, or just for the fun of it, giving a cake to the winning couple was no innova- tion. But the cakewalk inspired by these contests was definite- ly another black contribution to American culture. Dancers tried to outdo each other with fancy steps, struts, and ways of walking while the fiddler played and chanted, “Make your steps, and show your style!” By 1840 cakewalk was recorded as the name of these steps, which became the basis of many top dance routines still seen today. Whether the expression that takes the cake, “that wins the highest prize,” comes from the cakewalk is another matter. Though the phrase is recorded a century earlier elsewhere, it almost certainly originated with the cakewalk in America. Today it has taken on a different meaning and is said of something (or someone) that is so un- usual as to be unbelievable. What we know as cakes, however, are a comparatively recent innovation. Fishcakes, pancakes, and other round comestibles were known long before English cooks began experimenting with the sweet cakes that bear the name today.

词汇	take the cake
词源	take the cake; cakewalk. Cakes have been awarded as prizes since classical times, so when slaves on southern plantations held dance contests to help a needy neighbor, or just for the fun of it, giving a cake to the winning couple was no innova- tion. But the cakewalk inspired by these contests was definite- ly another black contribution to American culture. Dancers tried to outdo each other with fancy steps, struts, and ways of walking while the fiddler played and chanted, “Make your steps, and show your style!” By 1840 cakewalk was recorded as the name of these steps, which became the basis of many top dance routines still seen today. Whether the expression that takes the cake, “that wins the highest prize,” comes from the cakewalk is another matter. Though the phrase is recorded a century earlier elsewhere, it almost certainly originated with the cakewalk in America. Today it has taken on a different meaning and is said of something (or someone) that is so un- usual as to be unbelievable. What we know as cakes, however, are a comparatively recent innovation. Fishcakes, pancakes, and other round comestibles were known long before English cooks began experimenting with the sweet cakes that bear the name today.
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