{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./
EAT ONE'S CAKE AND HAVE IT TOO
Meaning of EAT ONE'S CAKE AND HAVE IT TOO in English
Dictionary of English idioms . Словарь английских идиом. 2012