Note: Other answers have addressed various aspects of the posted question quite well. This answer focuses on a request made in a comment beneath the currently accepted answer: "Can you trace the beginning of the negative connotation of the phrase though?" The answer to that question, it seems to me, is relevant to the poster's more general questions about how the saying came to be, because it sheds light on early sarcastic/ironic/exasperated use the expression.
The assumption that "take[s] the biscuit," although frequently used in a negative or sarcastic sense in the UK, was never used similarly in the United States is not supported by the evidence of early U.S. usage of the expression. Following are five instances from U.S. newspapers of the 1880s in which "takes the biscuit" appears in a negative, sarcastic sense.
From a brief item in the [Honolulu, Hawaii] Pacific Commercial Advertiser (June 19, 1880), reprinted from the Chicago [Illinois] Tribune:
Joe Cook calls Niagara "a dateless roar." When it comes to chopping up the English language beyond recognition, Joe takes the biscuit. —Chicago Tribune.
From "City Globules," in the St Paul [Minnesota] Daily Globe (May 30, 1881):
Yesterday the concern published in this city, but devoted to the interest of Minneapolis, bloviated about a granger who was tackled by a confidence gang and unwound of all his ducats. With characteristic stupidity the blacklegs are mentioned as having held forth at the Metropolitan hotel in this city. For superior penetration of the hind sight order this confession takes the biscuit. The joke that a half dozen "con" men could go from here to Minneapolis, when known by the fly soppers of that burg, and take a trick under their very noses is too good to keep.
From a brief item in the [St. Clairsville, Ohio] Belmont Chronicle (February 7, 1884):
For real good old-fashioned muddy mud this town takes the biscuit. If this thaw continues the streets will be navigable for skiffs. Bellaire Independent, Friday.
From a series of related brief items in the [Tombstone, Arizona] Daily Tombstone (July 12, 1886):
The gall of Banker Henderson of Tucson takes the biscuit.
Consistency thou art a jewel! How is that Henderson.
...
Considerable merriment was caused in the Board of Supervisors this morning by the reading of D. Henderson's communication.
The DAILY TOMBSTONE would inform Mr. D. Henderson of Tucson that even if he thinks the Board of Supervisors have no brains, that they have sense enough to see that he and his associates have not brains enough to rob the people of Cochise county.
And from an untitled item in the [St. Clairsville, Ohio] Belmont Chronicle (September 6, 1888):
For unadulterated "cheek" the St. Clairsville Gazette takes the "biscuit." When the consciousness that the clamor of its party by its President and press in favor of free wool unsettled the market, and caused a depreciation of prices, it has the hardihood to charge the low price of wool to the Republican press. If there is a Democrat in Belmont county who does not know that the "Mills bill" and a Democratic President's declaration in favor of removing the tariff on wool, was the direct cause of the low price of wools at the opening of the season this year, he should be sent to Barnum as a curiosity.
In each case "takes the biscuit" is being used in the same ironic sense in which many U.S. English speakers today use the phrase "takes the prize." It's not that they think biscuits or prizes are inherently or even usually bad; it's that they are making a sarcastic logical inversion in which a presumptively good thing (a biscuit or a prize) is awarded for a bad action, performance, production, or state of affairs.
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Related to biscuits: Ginger biscuits
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colloquial An expression of surprise. Primarily heard in US. Well, butter my butt and call me a biscuit—I haven't seen you in ages! A: "It turns out that lottery ticket I bought for you won $200." B: "Really? Butter my butt and call me a biscuit!" John managed to get the job after all? Well, butter my butt and call me a biscuit.
See also: and, biscuit, butt, butter, call
slang A fart. I can't believe you let an air biscuit loose in the car. Now we have to smell it all the way home! Quick, open a window! Someone let out an air biscuit! Sorry, there's always a lot of air biscuits after I eat dairy.
1. To die, break down, or become defunct. We all have to bite the biscuit someday. I drove that truck everywhere for 25 years, but it finally bit the biscuit yesterday.
2. To face up to, undertake, or confront some unpleasant or risky situation, action, or responsibility. You were the only person here when the television broke, so you might as well bite the biscuit and tell me the truth. I guess we'd better bite the biscuit and get this over with.
slang To fart. I can't believe you floated an air biscuit in the car. Now we have to smell it all the way home!
See also: air, an, biscuit, float
slang Phencyclidine (a recreational drug more commonly known as "PCP"). Were you guys able to score any gorilla biscuits before the concert?
See also: biscuit, gorilla
1. slang A response to "How are you?" that is roughly equivalent to "I am managing" or "I am fine." A: "How are you doing today?" B: "Eh, hanging in there like a hair in a biscuit."
2. slang Persisting, especially when doing so is unwelcome. Ugh, a late March snowstorm. Winter sure is hanging in there like a hair in a biscuit.
See also: biscuit, hair, hanging, like, there
1. slang A response to "How are you?" that is roughly equivalent to "I am managing" or "I am fine." A: "How are you doing today?" B: "Eh, hanging on like a hair in a biscuit."
2. slang Persisting, especially when doing so is unwelcome. Ugh, a late March snowstorm. Winter sure is hanging on like a hair in a biscuit.
See also: biscuit, hair, hanging, like, on
To be no longer functional or useful; to be dead or about to perish. Primarily heard in Canada. This old truck has served me well, but after lasting 20 years, it's finally had the biscuit. Despite the doctor's best efforts, it looked as though I'd had the biscuit.
slang Primarily heard in Australia.
1. Someone who is new to surfing. Keep an eye on Tad. He's still something of a shark biscuit, and those are some big waves.
2. A bodyboard. I think you'll have an easier time if you go out there with your shark biscuit, rather than your longboard.
3. A surfer who uses a bodyboard. I started out as a shark biscuit when I was a kid, but I've graduated to using a regular surfboard since then.
1. slang A mean or unpleasant person, especially a man. A minced oath replacing the profane phrase "son of a bitch." Julie's ex-husband was such a mean son of a biscuit, it's no wonder she divorced him. You gosh-darned son of a biscuit! I'm gonna make you pay for that!
2. slang An emphatic expression of affection or admiration for a man. That son of a biscuit really pulled through for us when we needed him! Why, you old son of a biscuit! I haven't you in a dog's age!
3. slang An inanimate object that is causing one problems or difficulty. My car broke down, and I can't figure out how to fix the son of a biscuit! A: "This stupid son of a biscuit has been giving me problems for weeks!" B: "I think it may be time to just buy a new computer, Tom."
4. slang An exclamation of anger, aggravation, pain, or shock. A: "Son of a biscuit!" B: "What's wrong?" A: "The bank just charged me $50 in withdrawal fees!" Ouch, son of a biscuit! Stubbing your toe is the absolute worst!
See also: biscuit, of, son
1. slang A mean or unpleasant person, especially a man. A minced oath replacing the profane phrase "son of a bitch." Julie's ex-husband was such a mean son of a biscuit eater, it's no wonder she divorced him. You gosh-darned son of a biscuit eater! I'm gonna make you pay for that!
2. slang An emphatic expression of affection or admiration for a man. That son of a biscuit eater really pulled through for us when we needed him! Why, you old son of a biscuit eater! I haven't you in a dog's age!
3. slang An inanimate object that is causing one problems or difficulty. My car broke down, and I can't figure out how to fix the son of a biscuit eater! A: "This stupid son of a biscuit eater has been giving me problems for weeks!" B: "I think it may be time to just buy a new computer, Tom."
4. slang An exclamation of anger, aggravation, pain, or shock. A: "Son of a biscuit eater!" B: "What's wrong?" A: "The bank just charged me $50 in withdrawal fees!" Ouch, son of a biscuit eater! Stubbing your toe is the absolute worst!
See also: biscuit, eater, of, son
1. slang A mean or unpleasant person, especially a man. A minced oath replacing the profane phrase "son of a bitch." Julie's ex-husband was such a mean son of a sea biscuit, it's no wonder she divorced him. You gosh-darned son of a sea biscuit! I'm gonna make you pay for that!
2. slang An emphatic expression of affection or admiration for a man. That son of a sea biscuit really pulled through for us when we needed him! Why, you old son of a sea biscuit! I haven't you in a dog's age!
See also: biscuit, of, sea, son
To be the most disappointing, annoying, shocking, outrageous, or egregious thing to have happened or been done. (Usually said hyperbolically.) But when I found out that he had been reading through my text messages, well, that took the biscuit! The government is using the taxes from the working class to bail out the banks that ruined the economy? That really takes the biscuit!
An undertaking that is ultimately pointless, futile, or a failure. Did you remember to put gas in the car? If not, this'll be a trip for biscuits! The whole investigation ended up being a trip for biscuits once the judge ruled our evidence was inadmissible in court.
See also: biscuit, for, trip
A sarcastic response to one who is excited about or seeks praise for a minor or insignificant accomplishment. (A biscuit, in British English, is equivalent to a cookie in American English.) Primarily heard in UK. OK, so you hung some Christmas decorations—what do you want, a biscuit? A: "I'll have you know that J.K. Rowling herself said my short story was pretty cool." B: "Wow, you're amazing. What do you want, a biscuit?"
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
Euph. a person, usually a male. (sometimes a substitute for son of a bitch.) Why, good to see you, you old son of a sea biscuit. You son of a sea biscuit! You make me so mad I could slug you.
See also: biscuit, of, sea, son
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
If someone or something takes the biscuit, they represent the most extreme example of something stupid or bad. For dirty tricks I can assure you it is the medical practice that really take the biscuit. I've heard some odd things in my time but that took the biscuit. This ban takes the biscuit. The whole idea is ridiculous and bureaucratic and not fair on the children. Note: This expression has a similar origin to `take the cake', which refers to the practice in the past of awarding cakes as prizes in competitions. Compare with take the cake.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
1994 Equinox I thought I'd had the biscuit. I was more than 12 kilometres from camp, I didn't have a coat…and it was about 40 below.
be the most remarkable. informal1925 P. G. Wodehouse Letter Of all the poisonous, foul, ghastly places, Cannes takes the biscuit with absurd ease.
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
n. a breaking of wind; a fart. (see also cut a muffin.) Who is responsible for that air biscuit?
(ˈbɪskət)n. the head. (see also float an air-biscuit.) She got a nasty little bump on the biscuit.
tv. to break wind; to fart. (see also cut a muffin.) Who floated the air biscuit? P.U.
See also: air, an, biscuit, float
and gorilla pillsn. amphetamines. (Drugs.) Stay away from gorilla biscuits. He’s high on gorilla pills.
See also: biscuit, gorilla
n. a chunk of peyote cactus. (Drugs.) Willy thought he got a piece of mystic biscuit, but it was just a moldy raisin.
n. a plain, drab, and dull person. Old Roger is a square biscuit and acts like a school marm.
See also: biscuit, square
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Anzac biscuits are commercially available in supermarkets, but none I've tasted before were as good as these ones served on the Riverboat Postman.
If you want to make two sets at the same time, cut out twice the number of biscuits, then double the royal icing sugar to 500g and use 5-6 tbsp water.
The prominent players profiled by MRFR that are operating in the global savoury biscuits market are Parle (India), Britannia (India), The East India Company (the U.K.), CEEMEA (the U.K.), Nestle (Switzerland), Burton's Foods Ltd.
Synopsis: "The Big Bottom Biscuit: Specialty Biscuits and Spreads from Sonoma's Big Bottom Market" by Michael Volpatt brings the experience of dining at the market to everyone who can't make it to Sonoma.