Avere la botte piena e la moglie ubriaca

Meaning: To want to have it both ways.

Language: Italian

Literally: To have the barrel full and the wife drunk

Category: Food & Drink

Origin: A peasant paradox proverbial in Italy since at least the 18th century: the wine cannot stay in the barrel and be drunk too.

Equivalents in other languages

French: Avoir le beurre et l'argent du beurre — literally: To have the butter and the money for the butter

鯖を読む (Saba o yomu) — To fudge the numbers in your favor, especially your age.
Enfiar o pé na jaca — To overdo it wildly, especially with food or drink.
Iets voor een appel en een ei kopen — To get something for next to nothing.
Een appeltje met iemand te schillen hebben — To have a bone to pick with someone.
Musztarda po obiedzie — Too late to be of any use.
Rzucać grochem o ścianę — To plead with someone who will not listen.

Ogni morte di papa — Extremely rarely; once in a blue moon.
Avere gli occhi foderati di prosciutto — To be unable to see what is right in front of you.
Fare le corna — To ward off bad luck — or to signal that a partner is being unfaithful.
Tagliare la testa al toro — To settle a matter decisively, once and for all.
Avere le mani in pasta — To be deeply involved in something.
Stare con le mani in mano — To stand around doing nothing while others work.