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 Words From

• cake·ist 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

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."

From BBC

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'".

From BBC

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

From Los Angeles Times

Professor Bale added that many Conservative lawmakers, like their prime minister, simultaneously seemed to want to keep taxes low while spending large sums on domestic priorities, their own version of Mr. Johnson’s philosophy, now nicknamed “cakeism.”

From New York Times

For remainists, lawyers – and trade experts such as Dmitry Grozoubinski and David Henig – are an antidote to “cakeism”: with their understanding of how the world really works, they are the ones best equipped to lay bare the madness of Brexit.

From The Guardian