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(10,960 posts)

14. To eat the cake, yet still have it

Wed Mar 20, 2013, 08:58 PM

Mar 2013

It appears to predate our modern use of have as eating something, like "I'll have the flounder" or "We were having desert when..."

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Where does "have his cake and eat it too" come from and what does it mean? [View all] Bandit Mar 2013 OP

My wife asked me this last week. NaturalHigh Mar 2013 #1

It is poorly worded Dreamer Tatum Mar 2013 #2

I've not researched it, but Denzil_DC Mar 2013 #3

It just means you can't have it both ways Hekate Mar 2013 #5

Google search result... Tx4obama Mar 2013 #6

Does this work - DURHAM D Mar 2013 #7

It's "You can't have your cake and eat it too." ananda Mar 2013 #8

Wikipedia sez: Cirque du So-What Mar 2013 #9

Oil companies 'Have their cake and eat it too' angstlessk Mar 2013 #10

Just for ducks KT2000 Mar 2013 #11

If you eat the damn cake, you don't have it anymore. Lex Mar 2013 #12

Thanks for asking this - I never knew either. Ruby the Liberal Mar 2013 #13

To eat the cake, yet still have it cthulu2016 Mar 2013 #14

Oooooh, is that how it's supposed to go? jazzimov Mar 2013 #15

From wiki JVS Mar 2013 #16

The one that used to get me was "waste not, want not." reformist2 Mar 2013 #17

Yes, let them eat cake. Bobbie Jo Mar 2013 #18