with icing on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "with icing on" is not complete and may not be fully correct in written English without additional context.
It is typically used in the expression "with icing on the cake," which means something that adds to the overall appeal or enjoyment of a situation. Example: "The vacation was amazing, and the surprise party was just the icing on the cake."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Seedy cake! (with icing on) Treacle tart!

The New York Times - Food

You could make : biscuits with icing on.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

THE kook on the bus had a Starbucks cup filled with ice on his head.

The New York Times

"I'm so used to his goal attempts coming down with ice on them".

The Guardian - Sport

He was treated just outside the mixed zone with ice on his chest before vomitting green gunk everywhere.

The Guardian - Sport

"He'd sit in the middle of the clubhouse with ice on just about every moving part he had -- shoulder, ankles," Baylor recalled yesterday by telephone.

The New York Times - Sports

But she decided to continue, rubbing herself with ice on changeovers, and said she experienced no other extreme symptoms except sluggishness.

The New York Times - Sports

With ice on North America and so much of Europe, sea level was some four hundred feet lower than it is at present.

The New Yorker

CLEVELAND -- Syracuse guard Scoop Jardine, who finished Friday's 77-60 victoverover Indiana State on the bench with ice on his left wrist after a second-half tumble, said it would not keep him from facing Marquette on Sunday.

The New York Times

Rush, a 6-foot-6 sophomore who had 27 points and 11 rebounds against Kansas earlier in the year, played only 15 minutes and finished the game on the bench with ice on his thumb.

The New York Times - Sports

Gary Sheffield spent Tuesday night lying in bed with ice on his left shoulder and spent Wednesday afternoon saying he felt strong enough to play right field for the Yankees.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "with icing on" primarily when discussing food or desserts. When referring to metaphorical 'icing', consider stronger alternatives like "the cherry on top" for greater impact.

Common error

Avoid using "with icing on" in professional or formal contexts where a more sophisticated phrase like "added advantage" or "additional benefit" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

Adjectival phrase, typically modifying a noun to specify that it has icing. It's a descriptive element, often used literally, though can be extended metaphorically to describe something extra or decorative. Ludwig examples showcase literal usage on treats such as "seedy cake".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Wiki

50%

News & Media

50%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "with icing on" is a descriptive adjectival phrase primarily used to indicate that something, typically food, has icing. While grammatically correct, Ludwig suggests that it is more common in informal contexts and less frequent overall. When a more impactful phrase is needed, consider alternatives such as "the cherry on top" for conveying a similar meaning. If you're simply describing a literal object, however, "with icing on" is a fine alternative.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

with the cherry on top

An idiomatic expression meaning the final, perfect addition to something already good.

icing on the cake

This refers to something that makes a good situation even better. It is slightly different, placing more emphasis on the general situation and less on a physical object.

with frosting on top

Replaces "icing" with "frosting," a synonym, maintaining the original meaning related to cake decoration.

with glaze on it

Substitutes "icing" with "glaze," another sweet coating, but it's a slightly different texture.

with a sugary topping

Replaces the specific type of topping with a more generic description, making it less specific.

with a sweet coating

Similar to "sugary topping" but broader, encompassing all kinds of sweet coatings.

with embellishments

Moves away from food context to refer to any kind of adornment or enhancement.

with added decorations

Refers to visual enhancements, shifting the focus from taste to appearance.

with extra features

Broader context shift, now about added capabilities or functionalities.

as an added bonus

Moves to a completely non-physical enhancement, an additional benefit.

FAQs

How is "with icing on" different from "icing on the cake"?

"With icing on" describes a literal topping on food, while "icing on the cake" is an idiom for an additional benefit.

Can I use "with icing on" to describe something other than food?

While possible, it's generally better to use idioms like "the cherry on top" or phrases like "an added bonus" for non-food contexts.

What does "with icing on" usually modify?

It usually modifies nouns referring to baked goods, such as "cake", "biscuits", or "cookies".

What are some alternatives to using "with icing on" in a sentence?

Depending on the context, you could use "with frosting on top" for a literal description or "as an added bonus" for a metaphorical one.