Meaning of if we had ham we could have ham and eggs, if we had eggs | Babel Free

Definitions

Draws attention to the futility of a plan or strategy in the absence of the resources necessary for it to work.

Examples

“The situation reminds me of the statement that "if we had ham, we could have ham and eggs — if we had eggs" — but in a world in which there are no hens. In theory, truly secure systems are impossible.”

“"And if we had ham, we could have ham and eggs, if we had eggs," Esbeth grumped.”

“This is the, 'If we had ham, we could have ham and eggs, if we had eggs' philosophy. . . . Delivering our cash to dictatorial and silly governments was bad, but even worse was delivering our big ideas about centralization, economic planning, and social justice to a country that had 120 university graduates at the time of independence.”

“This is the "if we had ham, we could have ham and eggs, if we had eggs" philosophy. Or as Nzezele put it as I was leaving Dar after having given him a large and not very well-earned tip, "When you get back to America, if you find that you have any extra money, could you send me a wristwatch?"”

CEFR level