The cherry on the top
Hello,

I am wondering about the expression included in the below,

"The cherry on the top is the winner gets a new house."

Does it mean 'the better of the better' or 'unexpected luck' or something else? I want your help with identifying the exact meaning and how it is supposed to be used in a conversation.

Thank you.

Dan

Question

The cherry on the top
Hello,

I am wondering about the expression included in the below,

"The cherry on the top is the winner gets a new house."

Does it mean 'the better of the better' or 'unexpected luck' or something else? I want your help with identifying the exact meaning and how it is supposed to be used in a conversation.

Thank you.

Dan

Answer

Close, but no cigar.
.
The cherry on the top is an allusion to icecream sundays and similar deserts, sweets, where the cherry there was one cherry on top, the best, the sweetest part.
.
So the cherry on the top is just the best part. Expected, but best.
You win, yes, that is great, but the cherry on the top is that you get .... as well.
For me the new house was wonderful, but the cherry on the top was that it was a ten-minute commute to work.