I know what it means, but I don't think it makes any sense. Think about it. If you have a cake in front of you, then your obviously going to eat it! What good is a cake, if you can't eat it?!
2006-12-18 15:51:11 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Quotations
Ray H gets the credit here:
The Proverbs and Epigrams of John Heywood (A. D. 1562). - Page 79
by John Heywood - 1867 - 223 pages
What man, I trow ye raue, Wolde ye bothe eate your cake, and haue your cake ?
Ye haue had of me all that I might make. And be a man neuer fo greedy to wyn, ...
Would yee both eat your cake, and have your cake ? Yee have had of mee al that
I would make ; And bee a man never so greedy to win, Hee can have no more of
2006-12-18 17:13:31 · answer #1 · answered by cruisingyeti 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have no idea who coined the phrase. But as far as what the expression means, you're looking at it too literally. Having your cake and eating it too doesn't necessarily have anything to do with cake per se. It is referring to having double rewards, when you don't deserve even one, but taking advantage of them anyway.
2006-12-18 16:01:35 · answer #2 · answered by gldjns 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I created it. It all happened back when I invented cake. It doesn't have to make sense, think about almost every other saying that we have...
2006-12-18 15:56:48 · answer #3 · answered by Chris_Knows 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was first written down in 1546 by John Heywood in his "A dialogue Conteinyng the Nomber in Effect of All the Prouerbes in the Englishe Tongue".
2006-12-18 16:02:06 · answer #4 · answered by Ray H 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think my ex-girlfriend made it up when she was dating me and another dude at the same time.
2006-12-18 15:56:31 · answer #5 · answered by Foss 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A fat person on a diet
2006-12-18 16:00:09 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋