how to say “to have your cake and eat it too”

 

לֶאֱכוֹל אֶת הָעוּגָה וּלְהַשְׁאִיר אֹתָהּ שְׁלֵמָה

 

 
Sometimes we want it all. But you can’t have your cake and eat it too… or
 
אִי אֶפְשָׁר לֶאֱכוֹל אֶת הָעוּגָה וּלְהַשְׁאִיר אֹתָהּ שְׁלֵמָה.
Literally – It’s not possible to eat the cake and leave it complete.
 
Broken down:
 
אי אפשרit’s impossible  listen and repeat
לאכול to eat  listen and repeat
את – et – untranslatable particle  listen and repeat
העוגהthe cake  listen and repeat
ולהשאיר – and to leave  listen and repeat
אותה it (something feminine)  listen and repeat
שלמהcomplete (describing a feminine object)  listen and repeat
 
Another expression conveying the same idea is:
 
לִרְקוֹד עַל שְׁתֵּי חֲתֻנּוֹת
to dance at both weddings

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