Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Calzaer · 05-20-2003, 03:45 PM

"Works like a charm"

Shouldn't that mean something DOESN'T work, at all?

Caligula · 05-20-2003, 05:46 PM

I dislike "having your cake and eating it too" as an example of wanting too much. I mean, what's the point of having cake if you can't eat it?

girlwriter · 05-20-2003, 07:53 PM

Calzaer,

Good point!

Caligula,
"Have your cake and eat it too," means you want two mutually exclusive things. The cake is so pretty, you want to keep it, but it looks so yummy, you want to eat it. You can't have it both ways. Personally, I say put it out as a centerpiece during dinner, so you can look at it, then chow down.
OK, I'm done being a nitpicker now.

The Other Michael · 05-20-2003, 08:51 PM

You can always just nibble at the cake, which allows you to both eat it and have it.

cheers,
Michael

Bumble Bee Tuna · 05-21-2003, 12:12 AM

have and eat works for me. It works like you want to eat it now vs have it to eat later. Once you're done eating, you want to still have cake. The phrase works like a charm for me.

-B

Ronin · 05-21-2003, 12:23 AM

Make butt-ugly cakes...and then hork 'em down.

trillian · 05-21-2003, 01:54 AM

Speaking of cake...what is so easy about a "piece of cake"?

trillian

Dr. Retard · 05-21-2003, 04:59 AM

Actually, it took me a long time to get "have your cake and eat it, too". What's the point of having a cake, I wondered, if not to eat it? Considerations of the 'prettiness' of the cake never came to mind.

Shadowy Man · 05-21-2003, 06:12 AM

The original quote is:

"You can't eat your cake and have it too."

Which means, once you've eaten it, it is gone, and you can't have it anymore.

Somehow over the years, the phrase has been turned around.

Godot · 05-21-2003, 06:30 AM

I'll just save my cake for later and eat someone else's right now.

05-20-2003, 03:45 PM	#1
Calzaer Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,762	Old Cliche Nitpicking "Works like a charm" Shouldn't that mean something DOESN'T work, at all?

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05-20-2003, 05:46 PM	#2
Caligula Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: West Coast Posts: 58	I dislike "having your cake and eating it too" as an example of wanting too much. I mean, what's the point of having cake if you can't eat it?

05-20-2003, 07:53 PM	#3
girlwriter Regular Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 300	Calzaer, Good point! Caligula, "Have your cake and eat it too," means you want two mutually exclusive things. The cake is so pretty, you want to keep it, but it looks so yummy, you want to eat it. You can't have it both ways. Personally, I say put it out as a centerpiece during dinner, so you can look at it, then chow down. OK, I'm done being a nitpicker now.

05-20-2003, 08:51 PM	#4
The Other Michael Honorary Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: In the fog of San Francisco Posts: 12,631	You can always just nibble at the cake, which allows you to both eat it and have it. cheers, Michael

05-21-2003, 12:12 AM	#5
Bumble Bee Tuna Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Middletown, CT Posts: 7,333	have and eat works for me. It works like you want to eat it now vs have it to eat later. Once you're done eating, you want to still have cake. The phrase works like a charm for me. -B

05-21-2003, 12:23 AM	#6
Ronin Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Mississippi Posts: 5,047	Make butt-ugly cakes...and then hork 'em down.

05-21-2003, 01:54 AM	#7
trillian Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: OC Posts: 1,620	Speaking of cake...what is so easy about a "piece of cake"? trillian

05-21-2003, 04:59 AM	#8
Dr. Retard Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Tucson, Arizona, USA Posts: 735	Actually, it took me a long time to get "have your cake and eat it, too". What's the point of having a cake, I wondered, if not to eat it? Considerations of the 'prettiness' of the cake never came to mind.

05-21-2003, 06:12 AM	#9
Shadowy Man Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: A Shadowy Planet Posts: 7,585	The original quote is: "You can't eat your cake and have it too." Which means, once you've eaten it, it is gone, and you can't have it anymore. Somehow over the years, the phrase has been turned around.

05-21-2003, 06:30 AM	#10
Godot Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Calgary Posts: 1,335	I'll just save my cake for later and eat someone else's right now.

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