let them eat cake

UK/lɛt ˌðɛm iːt keɪ̯k/UK/let ˌðem iːt keɪ̯k/UK/-ðəm-/Canada, US/lɛt ˌðɛm it keɪ̯k/

phrase

Used to express a profound disconnect between the elite and the unprivileged or underprivileged, suggesting a callous indifference or detachment to their suffering.

OriginFrench qu'ils mangent de la brioche →
Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

phrase
  1. idiomaticUsed to express a profound disconnect between the elite and the unprivileged or underprivileged, suggesting a callous indifference or detachment to their suffering.

Origin

  1. Frenchqu'ils mangent de la brioche
  2. Frenchqu'ils mangent de la brioche
  3. Englishlet them eat cake

Calque of French qu'ils mangent de la brioche. Incorrectly attributed to the last Queen of France prior to the French Revolution Marie Antoinette (1755–1793), the phrase actually originates from Confessions (Rousseau).

More words from French

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Esperanto lasu ilin manĝi brioĉon
  • lasu ilin manĝi brioĉonTranslations
French qu'ils mangent de la brioche
  • qu'ils mangent de la briocheTranslations
Polish niech jedzą ciastka
  • niech jedzą ciastkaTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

let them eat cake. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/let%20them%20eat%20cake

MLA

“let them eat cake.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/let%20them%20eat%20cake. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “let them eat cake,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/let%20them%20eat%20cake.

Source: let them eat cake on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.