The phrase “You can’t have your cake and eat it too” means that you cannot enjoy two mutually exclusive benefits at the same time. In other words, it’s used to express the idea that you can’t both keep something (e.g., a cake) and consume it — once you’ve eaten it, you no longer have it.
It’s often used to highlight a situation where someone wants two things that are incompatible or contradictory. For example, you can’t expect to live a carefree life without responsibilities and also expect to be successful in a demanding career. The phrase conveys the idea of having to make a choice or sacrifice.
Example:
- “You can’t have your cake and eat it too” might be said if someone wants to go on vacation but also doesn’t want to lose income from taking time off.
It essentially warns against unrealistic expectations or trying to “have it all” without facing consequences.