Where does the expression 'have your cake and eat it too' from?

Question

my friend despises this expression and goes crazy when its used! she ask us what else shes expected to do with the cake apart from eating it?! we use it to wind her up! anyone got any idea about the expression?

Answer 1

Really, it means you can't leave the cake intact (and enjoy it in that way) and also eat it (and enjoy it in that way) since by eating it you are cutting it.
This is a perfectly fine expression. Explain the meaning to your friend.

Answer 2

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.