cakeism

[keyk-iz-uhm]

noun

1. the false belief that one can enjoy the benefits of two choices that are in fact mutually exclusive, or have it both ways.

   The notion that, after Brexit, the United Kingdom would continue free trade with the European Union was sheer cakeism.

Other Word Forms

• cakeist adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cakeism¹

First recorded in 2016; cake ( def. ) + -ism ( def. ); extracted from the proverb “to have one's cake and eat it, too,” and associated especially with Brexit and Boris Johnson

Example Sentences

She said "cakeism, profligacy and hubris at the very top" led to "a failure to reign in expenditure" and that she "chose not to be bought off".

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A senior official warns "it looks like cakeism" – the prime minister wants to have it all ways, and doesn't want to be defined, or choose what he is really about, or maybe, the official warns, he doesn't really know?

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Asked if he was ditching the energy plan set out by former prime minister Boris Johnson, the chancellor said he admired Mr Johnson's "big visions" but added there were elements of "cakeism" - a reference to the phrase: "Have your cake and eat it."

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Ciaran Martin, the former head of the National Cyber Security Centre, in a speech in November said the idea that it was possible both have well-functioning end-to-end-encryption and give law enforcement targeted access to messages was "technological 'cakeism'".

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“That was a piece of ‘cakeism’ — you can have your cake, and eat it too,” Gimson said.

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