have it both ways
Enjoy incompatible benefits
To have it both ways is to benefit from two alternatives that are normally incompatible or mutually exclusive.
The phrase almost always appears in negative constructions, pointing out that someone must choose: You can't have it both ways—either you want independence or you want someone to take care of you.
Politicians are frequently accused of trying to have it both ways when they appeal to opposing constituencies or avoid committing to a position.
- win-win situationOutcome benefiting all parties
- ambivalenceConflicting emotions coexisting
- fence-sittingRefusing to take sides
- dualityTwofold nature
- dilemmaForced choice between undesirables
cake and eat it too · wanting it all · choice · alternatives · hypocrisy · conflict · optionality · sit on the fence · cognitive dissonance · equivocation · moral relativism · cherry-picking · picking and choosing · pick and choose · double standard · paradox · doublespeak · moving the goalposts
have it both wayscommit
Bind to a course
accept the consequences · bite the bullet · take the bitter with the sweet · face the music · prioritize
have it both wayscommit
Bind to a course
take a stand · decide · fish or cut bait · either-or · go all in