All phrases › have your cake and eat it (too)
What does “have your cake and eat it (too)” mean?
Meaning, example sentences and a quick practice question.
B2
To want both of two things that can't really go together
“You can't have your cake and eat it. You can't work less and earn more.”
From the B2 lesson What's Cooking? (food idioms).
C1
To want two good things that are usually mutually exclusive
“You can't have your cake and eat it. Either save the money or spend it.”
From the C1 lesson What's Cooking? (food idioms).
Quick check
What does “have your cake and eat it (too)” mean?
Teaching this phrase?“have your cake and eat it (too)” is part of a ready-to-teach lesson, with a reading, three exercises, speaking tasks and an answer key, in Everyday English Chunks B2 Pack 3 (Money, Food, Work and Travel) and Everyday English Chunks C1 Pack 3 (Money, Food, Work and Travel).
See the B2 lesson pack See the C1 lesson pack
See the B2 lesson pack See the C1 lesson pack
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