This is an all ears English podcast episode 23 93 sweeten up your English with these expressions Welcome to the all ears English podcast Downloaded more than 200 million times.
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Start your seven day free trial at all ears, Today, our listener asks us how to use the expression, take the cake, find out how to use this and get four more sweet English phrases.
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I O N E L. Hello, Michelle.
How's it going today?
Good Lindsey. How are you?
Good. I'm happy to be recording with you.
What are we talking about today?
I heard we were talking about cake.
Ooh, Lindsey. What's your favorite kind of cake.
Oh my gosh. I think you asked me this recently actually on the show, but I'll say something different.
I like carrot cake because I love the frosting.
All right. And you don't like it.
No. Oh, that was a cringe sound.
It was a cringe. I am not setting foot near a carrot cake.
You don't like the frosting though, the cream cheese frosting, Rochelle?
Oh, it's not your thing.
Okay, interesting. No, no, no, no. That's one, like, you know, I don't know, yeah.
I mean, listen, I'm not going to like lose my mind if I have something like, like if I have an Olive, I'm going to get very upset.
If I have some carrot cake, you know, it's okay.
Like I, but. You'll survive.
Actually, I'm getting a birthday cake made for my daughter's birthday.
Yeah. So it's gonna be a cookie dough cake.
Oh, yeah. That's fun.
Interesting. All sorts of new flavors, new cake flavors.
But we do have a great episode inspired by an expression.
Should we let her should we read the question first?
And then we'll see what the question what the expression is?
All right. Absolutely.
Let's do it. All right.
So this is from a listener in Japan.
Now, Taka, here we go.
Tell me about it. You're definitely the best podcasters.
This is in a review by the way of five star review.
So thank you to Mao.
Thank you. They said, I'm looking forward to checking if this podcast is updated after my after every day of work.
That is so great. Today I got a new interesting expression from your episode.
Lindsay said take the cake.
I'm curious about other expressions in which some sweets are used.
Thank you for giving us thought provoking opportunities.
Oh, amazing. Amazing.
Yeah. Thank you so much, Mel.
This is a great, great question.
This is going to be a lot of fun.
So um, we'll, before we get into that recently we did another cake expression.
Maybe that's the one that, uh, maybe that's where you said, yeah, probably it could be.
So that episode guys, check out 23 65 that was, can you have your cake and eat it too?
Yeah. And keep in mind guys, what you re learning over there, are totally different expressions from what you re learning here today.
So, who knew there would be so much to say about cake.
I mean, it makes sense, right?
Cake is great, so. So yeah, so Lindsay, what does it mean to say something takes the cake?
It means it s the most of something or the best, right?
It s used for extremes, the best the worst, right?
Or and it can be emphatic.
You can emphasize things.
Right. It's not used when you're just apathetic about something you don't really care or you're not really sure if there's much of a difference between this and that.
Right. Yeah, we have a strong feeling for something.
And it can be used positively or negatively.
So let's do some examples.
Okay. Do the first one?
Yes. You have to see my doctor.
He really takes the cake when it comes to good bedside manner.
I love him. Yeah. So we can use this again to apply to people, categories of like professionals, right?
The best dermatologist, the best doctor.
So many different things.
What else Michelle?
What's another example?
All right. So I've had some pretty bad experiences with the train system here, but this one really takes the cake.
So here's an example of something negative, right?
You're saying this is by far the worst train experience I've had here.
Exactly. The first one was saying that something is good the next one was saying that this is not a good thing.
Um, I mean do you think that are you more likely to use this in a positive or negative way or you think it really just can be one?
Um, that's a good question.
So I think when you use it in a negative way, it's a little sarcastic.
Right? It's kind of saying this is the The best the worst of the worst, like it's, it's the best of those.
Most, most worst of the worst. Yeah, it's dramatic.
It's a little sarcastic.
I say both. Michelle, what about you?
I think so too. I think so too.
I think it can just be used when you want to feel when we want to be a little bit dramatic.
Yes. Let's do a couple more examples.
All right. Give it a whirl.
So we go. You've always been a good cook, but this meal takes the cake.
Yum. Yes, so someone's just cooked a really great meal and you want to say, this is by far the best one you've cooked.
Right. Or, I've had some pretty bad dates before, but this one takes the cake.
Okay, so maybe this was the worst date ever.
Right. Right. Yes. So, it's extreme.
I mean, and it's often used, I think, to talk about a past experience and relating it to the most extreme version of that experience.
experience. So, in a way, I mean, you're comparing it to something in a way, because you're not if you've only done something once, you're, it has to be used when you're really kind of have some context when you have extra experiences.
Yeah, exactly right.
If it's the first time you're doing something and it's a good or a bad experience, you can't say it takes the cake because there's nothing to compare it to.
This is about pairing X to Y and Z and the others, right?
And even if you have done even if you are doing something for the first time and you say it takes a cake, you're still using it to relate it to other experiences you had.
There's still some sort of tie in, I believe.
It has to be in context.
I love that, Michelle.
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Okay, Michelle. So, our listener now did ask for a couple of other examples of sweets, right expressions that have to do with sweets.
And you know, as I traveled, as I lived, when I lived in Japan, I noticed that there's a big culture around cake shops, sweet shops, especially I mean, amazing.
You went there too, Michelle, you must have seen in the, In the huge subway stations in the basement, they usually have department stores.
And you walk in there and there's… Did you see that?
Do you remember that?
I love Japan. I want to go back so bad.
I know. Me, too. But you walk in there and you see these amazing cake shops with just the most intricate details and so beautifully presented.
So I think there's a big culture around desserts and sweets, sweet shops in Japan in the world I think also probably other parts of Asia too and and obviously in in Europe right so we're we're really missing the game here when I you know we're just we have our whoopie pies and our you know I don't know I just think the presentation of desserts can be so beautiful sometimes yeah oh my gosh absolutely for sure so let's talk about some of these expressions and we have talked about other I think way back we did another episode about is, you know, cakewalk and things like that.
You'd have to take a look for that one but so I tried to put some new ones in.
So what's the first one Lindsay?
Okay, cherry on top, right?
So this is the best and the worst part and additional thing.
Something that tops it off at the end for example I love the dinner and the cherry on top was when they came around and gave us free dessert at the end.
So it's like everything was good And then something additional was added that was good or could also be bad.
Right. I feel like I use this one more in a good way.
Generally. Yeah. Yeah.
Yeah, me too. I would say, um, Lindsay.
So, but why do we say cherry on top?
I mean, what does that come from?
What does it come from?
Ice cream Sundays? Did you say go to friendlies?
Did you have that brand?
Okay. So that is a Northeastern thing I think.
Or East coast thing.
Um, we used to go and get these beautiful ice cream sundaes and the place to go was friendly and you'd get your ice cream, your whipped cream, your fudge sauce, and then your cherry on top.
Right. On top. Yeah.
Oh, actually, that makes me think of have you ever heard kids say pretty please with a cherry on top.
Sure. Yeah. That's that's perfect.
That ties that in. Right.
Yeah, yeah. Exactly.
When you're begging for something from your parents, you.
Yes. All right. That's good.
So that's a cherry on top.
What's the next one?
the proof is in the pudding.
Have you heard this one, Lindsay?
Of course, Michelle.
Can you explain what this means?
Because it's a little bit advanced, the concept, I think.
It is. It is. When I was looking it up, you know, I know sometimes we have expressions where I know how to use it in context, but it's a little bit tricky to actually explain it.
But so let's give it a try.
So it's something that can only really be known once you actually try it or experience it, right?
So like, so for example, our results speak for themselves, the proof is in the pudding.
You know, you can trust our company.
Yeah. So instead of trying to convince someone with statistics and fancy language you would just say, just try the thing.
Right? And we're not really talking about pudding.
Right? I mean, I guess we could be a special recipe, but it's not about putting, it's not about food here, right?
Just to be clear, it's about some product or something that's doing well.
that is successful that you like, right?
Yeah. Right. Exactly.
Exactly. Yeah. Um, and then there's sweetie pie.
Um, not to be confused with whoopie pies, which I mentioned earlier.
Do you know what a whoopie pie is?
Michelle. I want to make sure I want to make sure.
Cause it's amazing.
Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Okay.
Good. Uh, so perfect.
A sweetie pie though, that's a term of endearment.
I mean, it can be used for kids, maybe your partner.
So you could say I teach first grade, a couple of my students are such sweetie pies.
Oh, yeah. And you might say this to your kid, right or to your pet or something.
Just a term of endearment, right, as you said, a way of addressing someone that you feel affection for.
Love that. Yeah. All right.
And this next one This moment that you have daily bouts with this with your kids.
You want to make sure you avoid this for them, right?
Oh, God. I just this morning, my daughter found a thing of gummy bears that I didn't want her to find.
And she said, I just want to hold it.
I just hold it. It's like seven in the morning.
And then she I heard her go, Oh, can I just have one?
And I come and she's already eating it.
Oh, come on. The key phrase here is sugar high and especially for parents, right?
I guess sugar really affects kids body, they're so small.
I guess it really just wires them, right?
So you have there's usually a crash, right?
So yeah, but it's not just kids, it's adults to right, we get this.
Maybe we don't notice it.
But we do. At least I do.
Yeah. In the afternoon, for example, if I have like a carb heavy lunch, I feel that right.
Maybe I have a lot of energy, and then maybe I crash trash.
Yeah, yeah, exactly.
So a lot of times where kids especially taught it basically means they're acting a little crazy.
So you could say, Yeah, when my kids have donuts.
They run around the rest of the day from the sugar high.
Yeah. I feel like the common lore here is that people send their kids off to their grandparents, and the grandparents load them up and then send them back on their sugar highs.
Does that happen? Yup.
Yep, well, it's, yeah, we'll, they'll be around and especially Dann's parents, I love them.
This is not a negative thing, but there's a lot of, oh, here's this, here's that.
And Dan and I always like stop don't do it.
Yeah, I can spoil them.
They've earned that, right?
I guess as grandparents, but that might be a little frustrating for you for sure.
Yeah. And sweets are used a lot in English, right?
Michelle, I mean, we could do more episodes on this if we wanted to.
There's a ton, a ton, um, these kinds of expressions.
So we'll have to come back to this one day.
Guys hit follow to make sure you don't miss it.
But Lindsay, let's do a role play.
All right. So here, Michelle, we are talking about beach vacations that we've taken.
Nice. I could use a beach vacation right now.
Sounds very nice. All right.
Here we go. You have to go to a whole beach. I've been so I've been to many beaches in the area.
But this one takes the cake.
Okay. I'll have to try it.
Yeah. I mean, don't take my word for it.
The proof is in the pudding.
Well, I trust your opinion.
And you have to try this restaurant.
We love their, the owner is a total sweetie pie, but beware, they have ice cream.
So your kids will probably have a sugar high after.
That's okay. Yeah. The food options are the cherry on top for the town.
Great. Yeah. We're hope Beach now that's in Delaware, right?
Delaware. Yeah. Yep.
Yeah, I know. Just chosen.
Yeah, that's like a favorite for people in the mid Atlantic.
I think usually right.
Whereas when I grew up in the northeast, so we used to go to Cape Cod all the time.
They're all I love Cape Cod.
Yeah. Like, you ever been to Cape May?
That's a New Jersey.
I accidentally drove to Cape May once I thought I was on How does that happen?
I thought I was on 95 heading towards Washington DC.
I was going down the state of Jersey.
Yeah, it was not good.
Oh, yeah. Oh, my gosh.
That's hilarious. Well, Kate May is beautiful.
Yeah, it's on the very bottom of New Jersey.
Right? Like, yeah, I don't know.
It's just gorgeous.
It's very sweet town.
Um, women. Yeah, for listeners who are living in the US guys, these are places you could visit little beach towns, little experiences, because there's so much literature written about beach towns in the US right now.
coastal towns, so many movie references.
So check it out. Yeah.
Okay. All right. Let's go through this role play.
I realized that I took all the expressions in this role play.
I didn't get anything.
I didn't give you anything.
My gosh, how rude. Okay.
Here we go. Um, I said, I've been to so many beaches in the area, but this one takes the cake.
So I'm saying it's good using this in a positive way and I'm comparing it to other beaches.
Yes, exactly. So that's a positive use of that.
And then you said, yeah, don't take my word for it.
Proof is in the pudding.
So what are you saying there?
Exactly. You're saying, um, you know, I feel so confident about this.
You don't want to have to, you just have to try it.
And I know that you're going to like it because it will sell itself in a sense, right?
You have to actually go there to experience it.
And then no more needs to be said.
And then you said, and you have to try this restaurant we love there the owner is a total sweetie pie and just meaning he's nice here she is nice and sweet right love that but then I said they have ice cream so your kids will probably have a sugar high after I love it and then you said yeah the food options are the cherry on top for the town so so you're saying the ice cream is like the foundation of the right Yeah.
And then and And then on top of all that you get good food options and Rehoboth Beach. Yeah, absolutely.
So perfect. So sounds like I really I really in this roleplay I love using all of the dessert expression sounds like I need to go get an ice cream and sounds like I need to try Rehoboth Beach. Geez, it sounds great.
guess. So Lindsey. Yeah, anything that you want to leave our listeners with?
Yeah, I think it's fun to look at.
You'll look at sweetening up your English, right?
Maybe that'll be our title today.
Sweet up your English with new expressions.
Don't just settle with the common idioms that you read in your textbook guys.
Look to what are you excited about?
Are you interested in sweets?
And do you enjoy sweets?
Maybe there's other other ways you can add additional phrases and maybe we'll do another episode.
Right? I like just make sure English more interesting, more intriguing, more expressive.
Right. Absolutely. Oh my gosh.
This was fun. Lindsay, let's go get some ice cream.
Yes. Please. It has to be chocolate Michelle.
Alright. We'll see you in the next episode.
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