the palm of the Buddha's hand (a metaphor for a higher authority or force from whose control one cannot break free, from 西游记[xī yóu jì], "Journey to the West")
1.lit. the fish and the bear's paw, you can't have both at the same time (idiom, from Mencius); fig. you must choose one or the other2.you can't always get everything you want3.you can't have your cake and eat it