Take the biscuit

[Philip E. Cleary]

I recently read an article in the Japan Times by a "London-based independent
journalist" in which it was stated that "the Greek proclamation of Genocide
Day takes the biscuit."

Is "take the biscuit" the UK equivalent of the US "take the cake"?  Or (even
though the author of the piece is London-based) is this the result of a
translation by someone not familiar with the expression "to take the cake"?

The article may be found at:
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?eo20010512a3.htm

Phil Cleary