Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(Aus./US) to surpass, to outdo, esp. in excessive or extreme behaviour; thus also bag/give/pass the bun, to credit something with being the best or worst example.

1885		Bulletin (Sydney) 26 Sept. 6/2: For scathing sarcasm the following ‘takes the bun’ from all creation.
1890		Bulletin (Sydney) 5 July 18/3: There was once the son of a Gunn, / A beggar to slog and to run; / He hit ’em so fast / That our boys looked aghast / A groaned ‘He has collared the bun.’.
1892		Sporting Times 9 Apr. 1/3: The Strong Man, who [...] bursts into tears and faints in the dock, takes the bun, the biscuit, the rusk and the entire bakery.
1894		Truth (Sydney) 6 May. 1/6: A great London weekly, which invited its readers to quote ‘the most pathetic line in the world’ gave the bun to —.
1891		Bird o’ Freedom (Sydney) 21 Mar. 2/3: When the Boss is particularly pleased with a paragraph he slaps one of the boys on the back and says, ‘Ha! ha! Cull, that collars the cracknell!’ or, ‘Bully for you, my boy, that bally well bags the bun’.
1900		Sporting Times 19 May 1/3: For preserving a dignified gravity under the most trying circumstances Mr. Penley, or ‘Charles, his Aunt,’ easily waltzes off with the bun.
1901		Bulletin (Sydney) 20 July 14/4: ‘Yarrum’ gives Temora the ‘bun’ for being the best-pubbed town in Rabbit Land.
1904		Sun. Times (Perth) 13 Mar. 8/2: Elijah Dowie’s father-in-law, an Adelaide bootmaker, takes the bun for meanness.
1905		Sporting Times 25 Mar. 2/3: Of all the things that I detest I pass the bun to crowds.
1905		Marvel III:55 12: I’ve seen some pantomimes in my time [...] and if this one doesn’t take the whole stock of buns my name’s not Tripp.
1906		Marvel 21 Apr. 354: Of all the ungrateful, disobligin’ codders, if he don’t take the champion bun!
1908		‘Doss Chiderdoss’ ‘When The Cranks Have Had Their Way’ Sporting Times 16 May 1/3: This takes not merely one but all the buns!
1911		Godfrey & Williams [perf. Billy Williams] ‘Don't go out with him tonight’ 🎵 Fancy you a married man! It fairly takes the bun.
1912		Bulletin (Sydney) 28 Nov. 48/1: I was never one who passed the bun to them there patent cures; / But, nevertheless, I must confess, Smith’s wondrous pill endures.
1912		Day Book (Chicago) 29 Apr. 13/2: Of all the bums I ever saw he took the bun.
1913		Sport (Adelaide) 26 July 10/2: They Say [...] He said that he would whack them one by one, / For as fighter he takes the bun.
1916		N.Z. Truth 28 Oct. 5/4: Mine Friendt, for row you take der cake, your language take der bun.
1920		B. Cronin Timber Wolves 96: Of all the old idiots that ever walked, you and George take the bun!
1927		N.Z. Truth 29 Dec. 4/6: If ever a fool were born / That Sidney takes the bun.
1963		R. McGregor-Hastie Compleat Migrant 105: Bun, to take the: to win.
1995		(con. 1860s) P. Ackroyd Dan Leno and the Limehouse Golem 74: This really takes the bun.