BBC地道英语:Have your cake and eat it 鱼和熊掌两者兼得

Jen: Hi! I'm Jen. And here's Li.

Li: (Sighing) Hi.

Jen: You seem in a bad mood, what's wrong?

Li: 你看看这本介绍就知道了。

Jen: (Reading) "Golden palm beach, Barbados. This resort boasts miles of unspoiled beaches, crystal blue waters and five star accommodation..." Is this where you're going on holiday, Li?

Li: Yes, 是啊，我刚订了。

Jen: Well, you don't sound very happy about it, what's the problem?

Li: Well, it cost me ￡5,000!

Jen: That's a lot of money.

Li: I know, 我还想存点钱装修我的卫生间呢。

Jen: Why did you book a holiday, then?!

Li: I have to go on holiday! 我两年都没有休假了，我真的需要休息一下。

Jen: Well, that's ok, you've booked it now!

Li: But I really need to get the bathroom done!

Jen: Well, you can't have your cake and eat it, Li!

Li: What do you mean?! 你怎么知道我刚才吃了块奶油蛋糕？你是说我胖吗？

Jen: Whoa! No, no, I'm not saying anything-

Is Jen telling Li to stop eating cake?

Li: Then why do you want me to stop eating cake?!

Jen: Calm down. I said, "You can't have your cake and eat it." We use this phrase in English to mean that you can't have something both ways.

Li: Oh. 你的意思是说我不能同时花钱又存钱，是吗？

Jen: Exactly. Let's hear some more examples:

He's just got married, but he misses the single life. Well it's too bad – you can't have your cake and eat it!

I drank a whole bottle of champagne at the party last night, but now I feel sick - I've got the worst hangover ever. But I suppose you can't have your cake and eat it!

Li: The second example is good – you can't have your cake and eat it. 如果你头天喝酒喝得酩酊大醉，第二天却觉得精神饱满，振奋。这是不可能的事儿! You can't have your cake and eat it.

Jen: And you can't have your lovely holiday without spending a lot of money on it.

Li: I suppose you're right.

Jen: All this talk of cake has got my stomach rumbling, I feel really hungry now.

Li: There's a new cafe across the road which is selling little cupcakes, they look really delicious! 我们下班了可以去买几个小蛋糕，怎么样？

Jen: I would love to, but I can't, I want to save my money to go out to dinner tonight.

Li: Oh well Jen, you can't have your cake and eat it. I'll just get one for myself!