# have it both ways

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/have-it-both-ways
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Synonym of have one's cake and eat it too.

## Examples

- You cannot have it both ways in this argument.
- He wants to work from home but also demands a desk at the office; he cannot have it both ways.
- The politician attempted to appease both sides of the debate, yet one cannot have it both ways when the core values are fundamentally opposed.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.