Phrase guide

cakes and ale

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • General-American, Received-Pronunciation: /ˌkeɪks n̩ ˈeɪl/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -eɪl

1

noun

Meaning 1

The simple material pleasures of life.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK, dated, idiomatic, plural, plural-only

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Lively fun and merrymaking.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK, dated, idiomatic, plural, plural-only

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From William Shakespeare’s play Twelfth Night (written c. 1601–1602), Act II, scene iii: see the quotation.

Across languages

Translations

1 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Italian: rose e fiori — lively fun and merrymaking