cake (redirected from You can't have your cake and eat it too)

be a piece of cake (British, American & Australian, British, very informal)

to be very easy. 'How was the test?' 'A piece of cake!' The interview was a piece of piss.

See also: piece

go/sell like hot cakes

if things are going like hot cakes, people are buying a lot of them very fast. The book has only just been published and copies are already selling like hot cakes in both Britain and America. (often in continuous tenses)

See also: hot, like, sell

have your cake and eat it (too)

to have or do two good things that it is usually impossible to have or do at the same time. He wants to have his cake and eat it. He wants the security of marriage and the excitement of affairs. You can't have your cake and eat it. If you want better local services, you have to pay more tax.

See also: eat

the icing on the cake (British, American & Australian, American)

something which makes a good situation even better. I was just content to see my daughter in such a stable relationship but a grandchild, that was really the icing on the cake.

a slice of the cake (British, American & Australian, American)

a part of the money that is to be shared by everyone. The government has less money to spend on education this year, so primary schools will get a smaller slice of the cake than last year.

See also: slice

take the cake (British, American & Australian, British & Australian)

if you say that something someone has said or done takes the cake, you mean that it was very bad, and even worse than things they have said or done before. She's been opening my letters - that really takes the cake!

See also: take

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have your cake and eat it too

to do or get two good things at the same time. I worked at home so I could raise my family and still earn money. It let me have my cake and eat it too.

See also: eat

icing on the cake

something good that is added to another good thing. He was delighted to have his story published – getting paid for it was just icing on the cake.

the icing on the cake

icing on the cake

a piece of cake

something very easy. Most parents know that dealing with a sick child makes everything else look like a piece of cake. Our team is strong, but it won't be a piece of cake to make it to the finals.

See also: piece

something takes the cake

something is the most extreme example. I've known some jerks but you take the cake.

Usage notes: usually said about something bad

See also: take