
Have your cake and eat it
Impossibility Emphasis
This phrase stresses the impossibility of having two conflicting desires met at the same time.
He wants a high-paying job without working hard; he's trying to have his cake and eat it.
Unrealistic Expectations
Using this phrase suggests that someone's expectations are unrealistic or greedy.
You can't expect to party all night and still perform well on the test; you can't have your cake and eat it too.
Common Uses
It's often used to highlight someone's awareness of the need to make a choice.
If you buy a house, you can't travel as much—you can't have your cake and eat it.
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