EAT ONE'S CAKE AND HAVE IT TOO

v. phr. To use or spend something and still keep it; have both when you must choose one of two things. Often used in negative sentences. Roger can't make up his mind whether to go to college or get a job. You can't eat your cake and have it too. Mary wants to buy a beautiful dress she saw at the store, but she also wants to save her birthday money for camp. She wants to eat her cake and have it too.