"You can't have your cake and eat it too" ¿en Español?

Question

Quiero saber si existe en Español algo idiomático que equivale a lo del Inglés, "You can't have your cake and eat it too". "You can't have it both ways".

La traducción automática en este sitio me da lo siguiente: "Usted no puede tener su pastel y comérselo también".

Esta traducción no me gusta, me suena un poquito torpe, ¿Hay algo mejor?

Gracias.

buena pregunta Jaime - margaretbl, Dec 13, 2010

Answer 1

Look at the phrasebook entry for this one...

No se puede estar en misa y repicando.

Answer 2

No se puede tener la chancha y los veinte.

no se puede estar en misa y en procesión

No se puede tener todo, el oro y el moro, la chancha y los cinco reales

Supongo que estas expresiones apliquen a los tragones, avariciosos, codiciosos, etcétera...¿cierto? - jaimetayag, Dec 15, 2010

yes, most of the population :-D - mediterrunio, Dec 15, 2010

Answer 3

Proverbio: no se puede hacer varias cosas a la vez

The phrasebook's gloss is not entirely accurate. The issue is not one of doing several things at once but, rather, of doing things that are mutually exclusive. President Ford, notwithstanding, it is possible (for some people) to walk and chew gum at the same time. However it is not possible to eat (have eaten) one's cake and still have it.

I can see no logical objection to the possibility of attending Mass and sinning at the same time (e.g. coveting one's neighbors donkey [since "as*" is not allowed] or wife).

It seems to me that the essence of the saying isn't captured by "no se puede hacer varias cosas a la vez", which speaks of doing different things simultaneously. - pesta, Dec 13, 2010

It doesn't mention these different things being exclusive - but "en misa y repicando" does. - pesta, Dec 13, 2010

Answer 4

I have always wondered this, and I have been told that the entry in the phrasebook is "very Spain." A Uruguayan told me it's "No se puede comer gofio y reirte" but that's probably "too Argentinian." :/

I would love to know a good translation for this phrase as well, I hope someone can help out!

La expresión tendría sentido si supiera qué significa gofio. What is it? - jaimetayag, Dec 15, 2010

Gofio is the Canary Islands name for flour made from roasted grains (typically wheat or certain varieties of maize) or other starchy plants - pesta, Dec 15, 2010