<P> You can't have your cake and eat it (too) is a popular English idiomatic proverb or figure of speech . The proverb literally means "you cannot simultaneously retain your cake and eat it". Once the cake is eaten, it is gone . It can be used to say that one cannot or should not have or want more than one deserves or is reasonable, or that one cannot or should not try to have two incompatible things . The proverb's meaning is similar to the phrases "you can't have it both ways" and "you can't have the best of both worlds ." </P> <P> Many people misunderstand the meanings of "have" and "eat" as used here but still understand the proverb in its entirety and intent and use it in this form . Some people feel this form of the proverb is incorrect and illogical and instead prefer "you can't eat your cake and (then still) have it", which is in fact closer to the original form of the proverb (see further explanations below) but uncommon today . Another variant uses "keep" instead of "have". </P>

Have your cake and eat it too mean