kill two birds with one stone
Related to kill two birds with one stone: Idioms
kill two birds with one stone
To complete, achieve, or take care of two tasks at the same time or with a singular series of actions; to solve two problems with one action or solution. I might as well kill two birds with one stone and drop off my tax forms while I'm at the mall for the computer part I need. Bike-to-work schemes are a great way of killing two birds with one stone: getting more exercise while cutting down on the cost of your daily commute.
See also: bird, kill, one, stone, two
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
kill two birds with one stone
Fig. to solve two problems at one time with a single action. John learned the words to his part in the play while peeling potatoes. He was killing two birds with one stone. I have to cash a check and make a payment on my bank loan. I'll kill two birds with one stone by doing them both in one trip to the bank.
See also: bird, kill, one, stone, two
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
kill two birds with one stone
Achieve two ends with a single effort, as in As long as I was in town on business, I thought I'd kill two birds and visit my uncle too . This expression is so well known that it is often shortened, as in the example. [c. 1600]
See also: bird, kill, one, stone, two
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
kill two birds with one stone
If you kill two birds with one stone, you manage to achieve two things at the same time. We can talk about Union Hill while I get this business over with. Kill two birds with one stone, so to speak. He had been on his way to the vegetable man's van, both to purchase some cucumbers for his mother and — to kill two birds with one stone — to seek out Mr Halloran.
See also: bird, kill, one, stone, two
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
kill two birds with one stone
achieve two aims at once.See also: bird, kill, one, stone, two
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
kill two birds with one ˈstone
manage to achieve two aims by doing one thing: If we have to go to Manchester for the meeting, then let’s visit Auntie Joan on the way there. We can kill two birds with one stone.See also: bird, kill, one, stone, two
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
kill two birds with one stone, to
To achieve two goals with a single effort. Although the idea dates from Roman times, the precise expression, however unlikely it may be as a literal reality (just try killing two birds by shooting off a single rock), dates from about 1600. Thomas Hobbes wrote, “T. H. thinks to kill two birds with one stone, and satisfy two arguments with one answer” (Liberty, 1656). A more feasible operation is to kill two flies with one flap (John Ray, Proverbs, 1678), but this term did not catch on.
See also: bird, kill, one, two
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- hit two birds with one stone
- kill two birds with one stone, to
- two birds with one stone
- battle of the giants
- chalk and cheese
- (one, two, three) strikes against (someone or something)
- cling together
- between two fires
- follow a middle course
- steer a middle course