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Glite Dictionary
to have it both ways

to have it both ways

27 7.2
To try to get the good parts of two opposite choices at the same time
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : querer tenerlo todo
  • If you want to enjoy the benefits of both plans, you can't have it both ways.
  • try to have it both ways
  • attempt to have it both ways

But you can't really have it both ways during that time.

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Examples

  • You don't get to have it both ways!

    Only the Brave (2017)

  • You cannot have it both ways.

    The Red Shoes (1948)

  • It's kind of fun to have it both ways because these are not big issues.

    I've Had It

  • Yeah, I think you could say that the administration kind of wants to have it both ways right there.

  • My guess is that she wants to have it both ways.

    Blog text (21)

  • The critics cannot have it both ways.

    Academic text (2005)

  • You were trying to have it both ways, and you were being completely selfish.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • From my point of view, I'd say the politicians want to have it both ways.

    Blog text (27)

  • But you can't really have it both ways during that time.

    Matthew Hussey

  • Make no mistake: the BSA will continue to try and have it both ways.

    Academic text (2000)

Synonyms

to serve two masters
vsto have it both ways
4 8.2

To try to please two people or groups who want different things and fail to please either

seeks personal benefit from two incompatible options rather than serving authorities
to suck and blow
vsto have it both ways
  • Informal
1 9.9

To try to do two opposite things at the same time

tries to gain from both incompatible choices at once
to butter someone's bread on both sides
vsto have it both ways
  • Informal
9.9

To benefit from two people or groups at the same time by being dishonest

seeks advantage specifically from two opposing or incompatible options
to run with the hare and hunt with the hounds
vsto have it both ways
  • Archaic
9.9

To support two opposite sides at the same time

aims to gain from both incompatible options rather than just pleasing sides

Antonyms

decisive
30 3.7

Able to choose quickly and firmly

How Committed

to commit
706 3.4
to take sides
39 3.1
to have it both ways
  • Informal
27 7.2
to fence-sit
  • Informal
8.1

Surface Forms

have it both ways infinitive
had it both ways past
had it both ways past participle
having it both ways present participle
has it both ways third person singular

Morphology

have + it + both + way

The components 'have' (possess), 'both' (two together) and 'way' (manner) give a plausible literal sense of possessing two manners or options, so a learner who knows the words can often infer the general idea of enjoying two alternatives. However the pronoun 'it' is elliptical and the phrase is used idiomatically to signal mutually exclusive or incompatible options, so the exact pragmatic force ('you cannot benefit from both') depends on context and prior exposure.

Etymology

Have it both ways comes from the simple image of someone who wants to keep a cake and eat it too, wanting the same thing in two opposite forms. So, 'have it both ways' means 'to try to get two conflicting benefits at the same time'.