Have your cake and eat it, too
/wɒnt tə hæv jɔːr keɪk ənd iːt ɪt, tuː/
Definition
The meaning: Want to have your cake and eat it, too is an idiomatic expression that means wanting to enjoy two desirable but mutually exclusive alternatives.
La signification: Cette expression idiomatique signifie vouloir profiter de deux alternatives désirables mais mutuellement exclusives.
Note: This phrase is often used to highlight the impossibility of having both options at the same time. It is also usually used as a negative beginning with "You can't + the expression."
Word Analysis
French synonyms
» Vouloir le beurre et l'argent du beurre
» Vouloir tout avoir
» Être gourmand
» Vouloir le beurre, l’argent du beurre, et le sourire de la crémière
» Vouloir le beurre, l’argent du beurre, et le cul de la crémière
A: Il veut un travail à temps plein et voyager chaque semaine !
B: Il veut le beurre et l'argent du beurre !
English synonyms
» Have it both ways
» Want the best of both worlds
» Want to have your cake and eat it
» Want to run with the hare and hunt with the hounds
» Want to have your bread buttered on both sides
A: She wants to save money and spend it all at once!
B: She can't have her cake and eat it, too.
Example Dialogue
Refiloe: "I want to eat all the cookies, but I also want to lose weight."
Teboho: "You want to have your cake and eat it, too! That's not how it works."
Refiloe: "I know, but it's so hard!"
Teboho: "Maybe just have one or two, and then go for a walk."
Etymology
Origin: The phrase "want to have your cake and eat it, too" is an idiom that expresses the impossibility of enjoying two mutually exclusive things. It is a variation of the older proverb "you can't eat your cake and have it too." The saying likely originated in the 16th or 17th century, drawing on the simple analogy of a cake that cannot be both consumed and retained.
Audience
The idiom "want to have your cake and eat it, too" is commonly used in informal settings to point out contradictory desires or unrealistic expectations. It is widely understood in English-speaking countries and is appropriate for everyday conversation.
When to use: Use this idiom when someone is trying to obtain two incompatible benefits or avoid making a choice between two desirable options. For example: "He wants to work less and earn more—he wants to have his cake and eat it, too." It is not typically used in formal writing, but it's a popular and easily recognised expression in spoken language.
Dictionary Meaning
Merriam-Webster says the expression means "to have or enjoy the good parts of something without having or dealing with the bad parts." Here's the example of use:
They seem to think they can have their cake and eat it too by having excellent schools for their son without paying high taxes.
News Snippet
"The reality is that you can’t have your cake and eat it too. You can’t talk about your sovereignty and then claim when you interrupt someone else’s sovereign national security interests that we can’t react."
Read the full article at The Daily Maverick
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WordReference
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Common Idioms and Expressions
Have your cake and eat it, too: To enjoy the benefits of two things that are usually contradictory or impossible to have together.
Example: "He wants to work less but make more money—he can’t have his cake and eat it, too."
Best of both worlds: To enjoy the advantages of two different things at the same time.
Example: "Working from home allows her to spend time with her family and focus on her career—she gets the best of both worlds."
Burn the candle at both ends: To overwork oneself by doing too much, often trying to achieve two conflicting goals.
Example: "He’s been working late and waking up early to study—he’s burning the candle at both ends."
You can't have it both ways: You cannot enjoy two conflicting benefits or outcomes simultaneously.
Example: "You can’t expect to save money and spend lavishly at the same time—you can’t have it both ways."
Catch-22: A situation where you cannot achieve one thing without sacrificing another, creating a paradox.
Example: "She needs experience to get the job, but she can’t get experience without the job—it’s a Catch-22."
Between a rock and a hard place: Facing a difficult choice between two equally undesirable options.
Example: "If I take the job, I’ll have to move away from my family, but if I don’t, I’ll miss a great opportunity—I’m between a rock and a hard place."
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