What good is cake if you can't eat it? Just seems silly to me even though I use this saying too
2006-07-21 05:30:03 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
It's not dumb. I like it. I mean, it's fun to have a cake, but then it's also fun to eat cake. But you can't have your cake after you've already eaten it. It's about making choices... I think it's great.
2006-07-21 05:34:42 · answer #1 · answered by Flutter 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
People use this to mean wanting to have everything, even beyond what is logical. I think the image is of a highly decorated, party or special event cake, where people tend to exclaim, "Oh, it's too pretty to cut it!" In fact, a photographer handy at just such an occasion is a good idea, as a compliment to the baker, but about five seconds after someone says that, they usually start cutting!
Anyway, an easier but equivalent comment is about breaking eggs to make an omelet. If you want to admire the food before you eat it, fine; but once you have made it, eat it and don't feel bad about the loss of the resources it took to make it. That's what they were there for.
2006-07-21 12:39:19 · answer #2 · answered by auntb93again 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I heard that the British reverse the phrase, saying "You can't eat your cake and have it too." I think that version is a little clearer, since it implies still having the cake AFTER you've eaten it.
2006-07-24 03:26:46 · answer #3 · answered by Amy F 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not dumb if you understand the point of the saying. "Have" here means "save it for use in the future". It means the person wants to eat the cake now AND save it for later, which is impossible.
If you want to spend your money now AND still have it available for spending later, in the future, then clearly your desires exceed what is logically possible for you to ever have.
2006-07-22 23:04:41 · answer #4 · answered by Durian 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Admittedly, it took me a long time to figure this one out. It is clearer if you think about it as "Eat all the cake and still have it available for eating afterward".
2006-07-21 12:34:40 · answer #5 · answered by crjensen77 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I fully agree that this is one strange thing to say. When I first heard it said, I thought "golly, he must have just made that up". But what alternatives can we think of?
Maybe...:
"Enjoy your privileges"?
"Take possession of what's rightfully yours"?
"Claim your birth right"?
2006-07-21 13:59:21 · answer #6 · answered by Tahini Classic 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Isn't that the point of te saying??
2006-07-21 12:33:51 · answer #7 · answered by JP 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋