Why do people say, "You can't have your cake and eat it too"? Why would someone get cake if they can't!


Question: Why do people say, "You can't have your cake and eat it too"!? Why would someone get cake if they can't eat it!?
Answers:
The always reliable Phrase Finder explains the origin!. A dramatist named John Heywood was the first to use it, at least in the written form!. The expression appears in his "A dialogue Conteinyng the Nomber in Effect of All the Prouerbes in the Englishe Tongue," a page-turner from the year 1546!. (Please note the fancy Middle English spelling!.) Originally, the saying went, "Wolde you bothe eate your cake, and haue your cake!?"

Before you answer that question by chowing down, let us explain what Mr!. Heywood meant!. Basically, he was saying sometimes you have to make a decision and live with the consequences!. To "eat your cake and have it too" (the original expression) means you want it both ways!. If you eat your cake, you no longer have your cake, because (duh) you already ate it!. Hope it tasted good!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Thank you!. I have had issue with this expression for so long!.

Obviously, you CAN have your cake and eat it too!. You can obtain cake, which you will then have, and then you can consume that cake!.

What they obviously meant was "You can't eat your cake and then have it too!." If you eat your cake, you won't have cake anymore, and so you can't both eat the cake and continue to have cake!.

I think the person who came up with this expression was just trying to be mean, and tell the other person "tough ****" or "life isn't fair" but they weren't very witty and so the expression doesn't make much sense!.

If it were up to me, I'd change it to "If you eat all your cake, then you won't have cake anymore!."Www@FoodAQ@Com

you can’t have your cake and eat it (too) proverb you can’t enjoy both of two desirable but mutually exclusive alternatives!.

— ORIGIN Scandinavian!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

I'm thinking it might have originated with Marie Antoinette saying "Let them eat cake"!.!.!.!. but, it really doesn't make any sense, does it!?Www@FoodAQ@Com

i find myself pondering the same question often!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Easy as pie!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

i guess if you eat it you don't have it anymoreWww@FoodAQ@Com

METAPHOR !!! think of it as good AND bad at the same timeWww@FoodAQ@Com

i think it is like saying you cant always have what you wantWww@FoodAQ@Com





The consumer Foods information on foodaq.com is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions.
The answer content post by the user, if contains the copyright content please contact us, we will immediately remove it.
Copyright © 2007 FoodAQ - Terms of Use - Contact us - Privacy Policy

Food's Q&A Resources