Definition
A final, perfect addition that completes or crowns an already excellent situation; the ultimate finishing touch that makes something ideal.
Etymology
This phrase comes from the tradition of placing a maraschino cherry atop ice cream sundaes and other desserts, a practice that became popular in American soda fountains in the early-to-mid 20th century. The cherry became symbolic of the perfect final touch that completed the dessert experience.
Kelly Says
The cherry on top represents something psychologically powerful - the human love of completion and perfection. The phrase taps into our aesthetic appreciation for the 'just right' moment when everything comes together perfectly. Interestingly, the maraschino cherry itself is entirely artificial, yet it became the symbol of natural perfection in American culture.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
ሰላም ላይ በር Berries
se-lam la-y ber-ri-es
ARالعربية
الكرز على القمة
al-kirz ʿala al-qima
BNবাংলা
টপে চেরি
tope che-ri
CACatalà
cereja al damunt
ce-re-ja al da-munt
CSČeština
třešně na dortu
tře-šně na dor-tu
DADansk
kirsebær på kagen
kir-se-bær pɔ ka-gen
DEDeutsch
Kirsche auf der Sahne
kir-ʃə ʊfɐ də ʃa-ne
ELΕλληνικά
κεράσια στην τούρτα
ke-ra-sia stin to-rta
ESEspañol
cereza en la cima
che-re-za en la si-ma
FAفارسی
سِبز بر روی شیرینی
sibz bar-o-yi shi-ri-ni
FISuomi
kirsikka kakun päällä
kir-si-kka ka-kun päällä
FRFrançais
cerise sur le gâteau
se-riːs ʊʁlə ɡa-to
GUGU
ચેરી ઉપર
che-ri upar
HAHA
cherry on top
cher-ry on top
HEעברית
שברי תותים
shev-ri to-tim
HIहिन्दी
टॉप पर चेरी
top par che-ri
HUMagyar
cseresznye a tortán
tʃe-rɛ-snye a tor-tan
IDBahasa Indonesia
ceri di atas
che-ri di a-tas
IGIG
cherry on top
cher-ry on top
ITItaliano
ciliegia sulla torta
tʃi-li-dʒia su-la tor-ta
JA日本語
イチゴの飾り
i-chi-go no ka-shi
KKKK
алма на торт
alma na tort
KMKM
ផ្កាឈើនលើបាយ
phka cheu-n leu ba-y
KO한국어
토핑에 체리
to-ping-e che-ri
MRMR
शहतूत वर
sha-hatoot var
MSBahasa Melayu
cherry di atas
che-ri di a-tas
MYမြန်မာ
ကြောက် ပေါ်
kya-uk paw
NLNederlands
kersen op de taart
kɛr-sən ɔp də taːrt
NONorsk
kirsebær på kaken
kir-se-bær pɔ ka-ken
PAPA
cherry on top
cher-ry on top
PLPolski
wisienka na torcie
vi-shen-ka na tor-tsie
PTPortuguês
cereja no topo
che-re-ʒa no to-po
RORomână
vishine deasupra tortului
vi-shi-ne de-a-su-pra tor-to-lui
RUРусский
вишня на торте
vi-shnya na tor-te
SVSvenska
hallon på tårtan
hal-lon pɔ tɑːrtan
SWKiswahili
cherry juu
che-ri juu
TAதமிழ்
கேக் மீது சிரி
kae-k mī-du shi-ri
TEతెలుగు
చెరీ టాప్
che-ri tɔp
THไทย
เชอรี่บนเค้ก
che-ri bon kae-k
TLTL
cherry sa ibabaw
che-ri sa i-ba-baw
TRTürkçe
tortunun tepesinde kiraz
tor-tu-nun te-pen-de ki-raz
UKУкраїнська
вишня на торті
vi-shnya na tor-ti
URاردو
ٹاپ پر چھری
tap par che-hri
VITiếng Việt
quả cherry trên bánh
quả che-ri trêm ba-nh
YOYO
cherry on top
cher-ry on top
ZH中文
樱桃点缀
yīng táo diǎn zhuì
ZUZU
cherry on top
cher-ry on top