ice the cake

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phrase

   To cover a cake with a sweet layer of icing or frosting.

   Grammar: Takes 'the cake' as a fixed object: ice the cake, not 'ice a cake' in the cooking sense.

   Patterns

   • ice the cake with something
   • ice the cake before something

   Let the cake cool completely, then ice the cake with buttercream.

   She iced the cake with a thin layer of chocolate and added fresh berries.

   If you ice the cake while it is still warm, the icing will slide off.

2. 2phraseidiomfigurative

   To be the final, most impressive part that makes something complete.

   Grammar: Usually used in the pattern 'something is the icing on the cake'; the verb form 'ice the cake' is rarer here.

   Patterns

   • something ices the cake

   Winning the award really iced the cake after a perfect season.

   Getting a window seat iced the cake on an already wonderful trip.

Common combinations

ice the cake with buttercream

She iced the cake with buttercream and piped small flowers on top.

ice the cake smoothly

It takes practice to ice the cake smoothly with a palette knife.

let the cake cool before icing

Let the cake cool before icing it, or the topping will melt.

the icing on the cake

The free dessert was the icing on the cake.

Synonyms and how they differ

frost the cake

The usual American wording for the cooking sense; 'ice the cake' sounds more British.

decorate the cake

Focuses on adding designs or toppings, which may not involve a full layer of icing.

Word family

icing noun

The sweet mixture used to cover or decorate a cake.

frosting noun

The American word for the sweet covering on a cake.

Commonly confused: ice the cake or ice the water?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “ice the cake”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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