How do you say “Have it both ways” in French?
The closest natural French equivalent is vouloir le beurre et l'argent du beurre, which literally means “to want the butter and the money for the butter”. English speakers use have it both ways to mean to get the benefits of two incompatible choices. A close French image for wanting two benefits that cannot fairly go together. Register: informal. Usage frequency: common.
Closest natural French
vouloir le beurre et l'argent du beurre
/vulwaʁ lə bœʁ e laʁʒɑ̃ dy bœʁ/
- Literal meaning
- “to want the butter and the money for the butter”
- Register
- informal
- How often it's used
- common
- Equivalence
Near-exact equivalent
96 out of 100
What a native French speaker would actually say
You cannot sell the butter, keep the payment and keep the butter too. The image makes the impossible bargain easy to picture.
“On ne peut pas avoir le beurre et l’argent du beurre” is a familiar warning. It can sound accusing if the other person thinks a compromise is possible.
How close is the meaning?
- Meaning5 out of 5
- Tone5 out of 5
- Context5 out of 5
- Literal similarity2 out of 5
These ratings are editorial approximations, not measurements.
In context
English
You want complete privacy but a public fan club; you can't have it both ways.
French
Tu veux une vie totalement privée et un fan-club public ; tu ne peux pas avoir le beurre et l'argent du beurre.
English
He wants to keep the car and spend the money from selling it. He wants it both ways.
French
Il veut garder la voiture et dépenser l'argent de sa vente. Il veut le beurre et l'argent du beurre.
Related expressions
Last updated 2026-10-01