Where did the idiom the icing on the cake come from?

The word “frosting” has been used since the 1600s to describe the act of covering a cake in a sugary, buttery coating. The first example of the idiom being used in a figurative sense comes from “The Sin of Pat Muldoon” written by playwrightJohn McLiamin 1957.
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Where did the saying icing on the cake come from?

The first cakes, though, were made in Neolithic times, and were often quite similar to bread. It's safe to say that the first time anyone used the idiom 'Icing on the cake' was sometime after 1769, when cakes became much more enjoyable thanks to the addition of fancy toppings.
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Is the icing on the cake an idiom?

The meaning of Icing on the cake

Simple definition: Something that makes a good situation even better or a bad situation even worse. The icing on the cake has two meanings and they strangely happen to be opposites. This idiom can be used in a positive sense and a negative sense.
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What is the icing of the cake?

What Is Icing? Icing is a pastry topping made with confectioners' sugar (or powdered sugar) mixed with a liquid, such as milk or cream, lemon juice, or liqueur. Food coloring is added to make colorful, decorative icing, which can be used to decorate frosted cakes.
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What is the meaning of cherry on the cake?

(also the cherry on (top of) the sundae, the cherry on top) something that makes something that is already good even better, or perfect: For his career, the Olympic Games would be the cherry on the cake.
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The Icing on the Cake Meaning | English Idioms



What is another way to say icing on the cake?

Similar words for icing on the cake:

crowning achievement (noun) embellishment (noun) extravagance (noun)
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What does being at sixes and sevens mean?

phrase [usually verb-link PHRASE] If you say that someone or something is at sixes and sevens, you mean that they are confused or disorganized.
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Can't cut the mustard meaning?

What does “cut the mustard” mean? To cut the mustard is “to reach or surpass the desired standard or performance” or more generally “to succeed, to have the ability to do something.” For instance, Beyoncé really cut the mustard in her new song.
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Have a frog in your throat definition?

Definition of have a frog in one's throat

: to be unable to speak normally because one's throat is dry and hoarse.
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What does the phrase cherry on top mean?

(also the cherry on (top of) the sundae, the cherry on top) something that makes something that is already good even better, or perfect: For his career, the Olympic Games would be the cherry on the cake.
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Has gone to the dogs idiom meaning?

Definition of go to the dogs

: to become ruined : to change to a much worse condition Our favorite restaurant has gone to the dogs lately.
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What does the idiom hit the hay mean?

to go to one's bed in order to sleep. It's been a great evening, but I'm ready to hit the hay.
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What is the idiom of a fish out of water?

A person away from his or her usual environment or activities. For example, Using a computer for the first time, Carl felt like a fish out of water, or On a hiking trail, Nell was a fish out of water. This expression alludes to the fact that fish cannot survive for long on dry land. [
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What is the meaning of get off your high horse?

to stop talking as if you were better or smarter than other people: It's time you came down off your high horse and admitted you were wrong.
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What does the phrase black sheep mean?

Definition of black sheep

: a disfavored or disreputable member of a group.
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What does the term Bob's your uncle mean?

Definition of and Bob's your uncle

British, informal. —used to say that something is easy to do or use Just complete the form, pay the fee, and Bob's your uncle!
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Where did kick the bucket come from?

The term is known to date from at least the 16th century. The more interesting (and probably apochryphal) origin relates to suicides who would stand on a large bucket with noose around the neck and, at the moment of their choosing, would kick away the bucket.
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Where did the expression at sixes and sevens come from?

The term at sixes and sevens goes back at least to the 1300s. Originally, the phrase was rendered on six and seven, and referred to a dice game where throwing on a six or seven meant risking one's entire fortune. Until the 1600s, on sixes and sevens meant to take a careless risk.
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Where did the phrase dressed to the nines?

The phrase is said to be Scots in origin. The earliest written example of the phrase is from the 1719 Epistle to Ramsay by the Scottish poet William Hamilton: The bonny Lines therein thou sent me, How to the nines they did content me.
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Where does the saying for 2 pins come from?

for two ˈpins

(old-fashioned, British English) used to say that you would like to do something, even though you know that it would not be sensible: I spend so much money on this car. For two pins I'd sell it.
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What does bolt from the blue mean?

Definition of bolt from the blue

: a complete surprise : something totally unexpected.
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What is the meaning of crowning achievement?

A crowning event or achievement is the best or most important one: the crowning achievement of her long career. Walking on the moon was his crowning glory (= his most important achievement).
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What can I use instead of think?

synonyms for think
  • assume.
  • consider.
  • determine.
  • expect.
  • feel.
  • guess.
  • judge.
  • realize.
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What's another word for frosting?

In this page you can discover 11 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for frosting, like: icing, buttercream, coating, filling, glaze, ice, ganache, whipped-cream, chocolate-mousse, macaroon and marzipan.
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What does let sleeping dogs lie?

Definition of let sleeping dogs lie

: to ignore a problem because trying to deal with it could cause an even more difficult situation I thought about bringing up my concerns but decided instead to let sleeping dogs lie.
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