| idiom. |
to seek to have two things which are mutually incompatible (such as eating a piece of cake and yet still possessing that piece for future use; Usage notes: This expression is usually found in some form of the proverb, e. g.: One cannot have one's cake and eat it too. Usage example: It's not possible to get your savings and keep the piggy bank intact. You can't have your cake and eat it too!  wiktionary.org); to have or do two things that one desires that are normally contradictory or impossible to have or do simultaneously (You're never going to save enough money to buy a house if you keep buying expensive appliances and cars. You can't have your cake and eat it, too. • Don't buy a car if you want to walk and stay healthy. You can't eat your cake and have it too. thefreedictionary.com); to have or enjoy the good parts of something without having or dealing with the bad parts (They seem to think they can have their cake and eat it too by having excellent schools for their son without paying high taxes. merriam-webster.com) |
