Icing on the cake
What is an idiom? An idiom is a phrase or expression. They are tricky to understand as their meanings do not directly relate to the individual words used in the phrase.
Definition:
The English idiom the "the icing on the cake" means something extra that makes a good situation even better or makes a bad situation even worse.
Positive meaning: refers to something extra that makes a good situation even better, like a bonus or an extra treat. Imagine you get a delicious cake, and then someone adds sweet icing on top—that's even better!
Negative meaning: refers to something additional that makes a bad situation even worse. It’s like having a bad steak, and then someone pours a sauce all over it that tastes horrible, making it worse.
Origin:
The idiom has its origins in the literal process of cake decorating. The concept of using icing on cakes dates back to at least the 17th century. However, the idiom itself began to be used figuratively in the 19th century.
Literal Meaning: In baking, icing (or frosting) is added to cakes to enhance their flavor and appearance. A plain cake is delicious, but the icing adds an extra layer of sweetness and makes the cake taste better and is visually more appealing.
Figurative Usage: The idiom started to appear in literature and everyday language in the 19th century. One of the earliest recorded uses of the phrase appears in the 1830s. However, it became more common in the early 20th century.
By the 20th century, the phrase had become a widely recognized idiom in English, used in both British and American English to describe an extra, often unexpected, bonus.
The negative meaning of the phrase is a more recent development compared to its positive usage. The exact time when the negative meaning began to be used is difficult to pinpoint. It likely emerged in the mid-to-late 20th century as language evolved and people began to use the idiom in a more ironic or sarcastic way.
Examples:
The idiom is commonly used to highlight an extra, often unexpected, benefit that enhances an already positive situation.
Here are examples of how the idiom can be used in sentences:
Business context:
"I got the job I really wanted, and the icing on the cake was getting an increase in salary."
"We were disappointed when we didn't win the contract, but the real icing on the cake was finding out that our biggest competitor got it instead."
Winning/Loosing context:
"Winning first place in the competition was amazing, and the icing on the cake was receiving a scholarship for college."
"Our football teaming losing their game wasn’t great, but the icing on the cake was they lost by 5 goals!"
Planning context:
"The conference went smoothly and was well-attended, but the icing on the cake was the keynote speaker's inspiring speech."
"Our vacation plans were already ruined when our flight got canceled, but the icing on the cake was when we found out the hotel we booked was non-refundable."