cake on the cake

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cake on the cake" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express an idea of adding something extra or unnecessary on top of something that is already good, but it is not a standard expression. Example: "Adding sprinkles to the already decorated cake feels like cake on the cake."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Wiki

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Icing and Decorating the Cake Place the largest 12-inch cake on the cake stand and cover with the already marbleised colored brown icing to cover the layer.

WikiHow

Top the 10 inched sized cake topped with the marbled icing, and cut roughly at the base, place this cake over the bottom layer of the cake on the cake stand.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

That's why the American Cancer Society, The Culinary Institute of America, and Duff Goldman from Food Network's hit show Ace of Cakes came together to create a new, healthier take on the birthday cake as the official cake of the American Cancer Society -- and hosted the "Taste More Birthday's" cake contest to find it.

Huffington Post

"It's the icing on the cake, not the cake itself.

The Guardian - Business

"Hair color is the icing on the cake, and the cake is the cut," Mr. Johns said.

The New York Times

"It is, as you like to say in England, the icing on the cake, but the cake is more important than the icing," Mourinho told Sky Sports.

The Guardian - Sport

But the composer George Stiles and the lyricist Anthony Drewe "want their show to be seen, and Manhattan is the icing on the cake, not the cake," Mr. Stimac said.

The New York Times

PITY Lauren Huber, 27, a Baltimore bride-to-be who began planning her wedding 12 months ahead only to see the economic downturn force her to forgo not just the icing on the cake, but the cake itself.

The New York Times

"It's the icing on the cake - the cake obviously being the World Cup.

BBC

There are a number of elements we didn't get into here; the Ovi store, the front-facing camera, the FM transmitter… Thing is, they're fantastic icing on the cake, but the cake is made of crap.

TechCrunch

Put a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the cake in the cake pan.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "cake on the cake" in formal writing. Opt for clearer and more common expressions like "icing on the cake" or "an added bonus" to convey the intended meaning.

Common error

Don't assume that altering a well-known idiom maintains its meaning. While "icing on the cake" is widely understood, "cake on the cake" is not, and can confuse your readers.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cake on the cake" attempts to function as an idiomatic expression, but it's non-standard. It seems intended to convey the idea of something superfluous or excessive. As Ludwig AI points out, is not a correct phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Wiki

50%

News & Media

50%

Science

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "cake on the cake" is a non-standard expression that attempts to convey the idea of something being superfluous or excessive. While it may be used informally, it is not a recognized idiom and is generally considered incorrect in formal writing. Better alternatives include the popular idiom "icing on the cake", "cherry on top", or the phrase "an added bonus". As Ludwig AI underlines, this phrase is not correct and a better approach would be using well-known idioms.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

icing on the cake

Emphasizes an additional benefit that is not essential but welcome.

an added bonus

Highlights something extra that improves a situation.

gravy on top

Suggests an extra layer of advantage or reward.

cherry on top

Indicates the final perfect addition to something already good.

gilding the lily

Implies adding unnecessary ornamentation to something already beautiful.

paint the lily

Similar to gilding the lily, suggesting excessive or pointless embellishment.

add insult to injury

Suggests making a bad situation even worse, the opposite of something being an additional benefit.

superfluous addition

Highlights the unnecessary nature of something added.

unnecessary addition

Directly indicates that something is not needed.

excess baggage

Implies an addition that is burdensome or unwanted.

FAQs

What does "cake on the cake" mean?

The phrase "cake on the cake" is not a standard English idiom. It seems to be an attempt to convey a sense of something being excessive or superfluous. A more common idiom with a similar sentiment is "icing on the cake", which refers to an additional benefit or enhancement.

Is "cake on the cake" grammatically correct?

While not strictly ungrammatical, "cake on the cake" is not a recognized idiom or common phrase in English. Therefore, it's generally considered incorrect to use in formal writing or speech. Using more established idioms like "cherry on top" is preferred.

When can I use "cake on the cake"?

You could use "cake on the cake" informally if you are trying to be creative or humorous, but be aware that most people may not understand the intended meaning. In most contexts, it's better to use a more established idiom like "an added bonus".

What is a better alternative to "cake on the cake"?

Better alternatives include "icing on the cake", "an added bonus", or "cherry on top". These idioms are well-understood and convey the idea of something being a pleasant addition or extra benefit.