cherry on top

English

Etymology

An allusion to cakes, which are sometimes topped with cherries.

Pronunciation

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Noun

cherry on top (plural cherries on top)

1. Synonym of icing on the cake
   • 2022 November 21, David Hytner, “England open World Cup in style with Bukayo Saka double in 6-2 rout of Iran”, in The Guardian‎^[1]:

     Everything is possible, Southgate had said on Sunday, as he sought to consign the dismal Nations League campaign to unwanted history. This was a display to fire optimism. There was even the cherry on top of a late sixth for Jack Grealish, who had entered as a substitute, from a pull-back from another replacement, Callum Wilson.

   • 2022 December 28, Christian Wolmar, “Annus horribilus must mark a turning point for our railway”, in RAIL, number 973, page 44:

     But at least investment was on the agenda. Now the state of the industry can be described as blancmange, an incoherent muddle without even a cherry on top. And that has not gone unnoticed.

Alternative forms

• cherry on the cake

Related terms

• pretty please with a cherry on top

Anagrams

• necrotrophy