eat one's cake and have it too

by A. Makkai, M.T. Boatner, J.E. Gates

[eat one's cake and have it too] {v. phr.}

To use or spend something and still keep it; have both when you must choose one of two things. Often used in negative sentences.

* /Roger can't make up his mind whether to go to college or get a job. You can't eat your cake and have it too./

* /Mary wants to buy a beautiful dress she saw at the store, but she also wants to save her birthday money for camp. She wants to eat her cake and have it too./

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	{v. phr.} ²¹⁸²

Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms

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	See also »
	have one's cake and eat it too [have one's cake and eat it too] {v. phr.} To enjoy two opposite advantages. * ... A Dictionary of American Idioms take the cake [take the cake] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To take the first prize; be the best; ... A Dictionary of American Idioms pat-a-cake [pat-a-cake] {n.} A clapping game that keeps time to a nursery rhyme. * /Mother played ... A Dictionary of American Idioms cake [cake] See: EAT-ONE'S CAKE AND HAVE IT TOO, PAT-A-CAKE, TAKE THE CAKE. A Dictionary of American Idioms American Idioms American Idiomatic Expressions This online dictionary of idioms is based on original book by ... Dictionary of American Idioms piece of cake [piece of cake] {adj.}, {slang} Easy. * /The final exam was a piece of cake./ ... A Dictionary of American Idioms too [too] See: EAT ONE'S CAKE AND HAVE IT TOO. A Dictionary of American Idioms

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