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cakes and ale

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cakes and ale

Simple material pleasures; fun or lively enjoyment in general. The phrase first appeared in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night: "Dost thou think, because thou art virtuous, there shall be no more cakes and ale?" Primarily heard in UK. Any reasonable person knows that life is not all cakes and ale. Kids these days think only of cakes and ales—and not of the hard work they need to put in to be successful.

See also: ale, and, cake