Dictionary

kill two birds with one stone en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Etymology

Apparently coined by Dr. John Bramhall, Bishop of Derry, in a 1646 letter to Thomas Hobbes, later published in 1656. Compare earlier stop two gaps with one bush.

Meanings

1. (idiomatic) To solve two problems with one single action.
   • In favouring the well-connected, politically and culturally sophisticated Italian merchants and diplomats who regularly arrived in England on curial business Henry killed two birds with one stone, gratifying popes by the attention and respect shown to their intimates, and employing them as his own eyes and ears at Rome […]. 2011, Thomas Penn, Winter King, Penguin, published 2012, page 116:
   • Biking to work kills two birds with one stone. It saves money travelling and will help to lose weight.

Forms

Deriveds

two birds with one stone

Relateds

stop two gaps with one bush · while one is at it · one fell swoop · at one blast

Synonyms

feed two birds with one scone

Translations (71)

no slå to fluger i ein smekk (solve two problems at once) · vi nhất cử lưỡng tiện (solve two problems at once) · is slá tvær flugur í einu höggi (solve two problems at once) · fr faire d'une pierre deux coups (solve two problems at once) · sv slå två flugor i en smäll (solve two problems at once) · sh ùbiti jèdnīm ùdārcem dvȉje mùhe (solve two problems at once) · lv nošaut divus zaķus ar vienu šāvienu (solve two problems at once) · ar اِصْطَادَ عُصْفُورَيْن بِحَجَر وَاحِد (solve two problems at once) · lb zwou Mécken op ee Schlag kréien (solve two problems at once) · mn нэг сумаар хоёр туулай буудах (solve two problems at once) · cy lladd dwy frân ag un ergyd (solve two problems at once) · yue 一石二鳥 /一石二鸟 (solve two problems at once) · vi một công đôi việc (solve two problems at once) · yue 一雞兩味 /一鸡两味 (solve two problems at once) · yi כאַפּן צען סאָראָקעס בײַ איין וויידל (solve two problems at once) · el μ’ ένα σμπάρο δυο τρυγόνια (solve two problems at once) · ga dhá éan a mharú leis an urchar amháin (solve two problems at once) · cs zabít dvě mouchy jednou ranou (solve two problems at once) · te ఒకేదెబ్బకు రెండు పిట్టలు (solve two problems at once) · pl upiec dwie pieczenie na jednym ogniu (solve two problems at once) · bn এক ঢিলে দুই পাখি মারা (solve two problems at once) · be забі́ць дву́х зайцо́ў (solve two problems at once) · my တစ်ချက်ခုတ် နှစ်ချက်ပြတ် (solve two problems at once) · es matar dos pájaros de una pedrada (solve two problems at once) · nl twee vliegen in een klap slaan (solve two problems at once) · yue 一箭雙鵰 /一箭双雕 (solve two problems at once) · sh убити једним ударцем двије мухе (solve two problems at once) · pl piec dwie pieczenie na jednym ogniu (solve two problems at once) · eo trafi du celojn per unu ŝtono (solve two problems at once) · ko 일석이조 (solve two problems at once) · vi một công đôi chuyện (solve two problems at once) · ka ერთი გასროლით ორი კურდღლის მოკვლა (solve two problems at once) · cy lladd dau aderyn â'r un garreg (solve two problems at once) · be забіва́ць двух зайцо́ў (solve two problems at once) · hi एक पंथ दो काज (solve two problems at once) · th ยิงปืนนัดเดียวได้นกสองตัว (solve two problems at once) · cy lladd dau aderyn ag un ergyd (solve two problems at once) · ro împușca doi iepuri dintr-un foc (solve two problems at once) · vi nhất tiễn song điêu (solve two problems at once) · ca matar dos pardals d'un tret (solve two problems at once) · ca matar dos ocells d'un tret (solve two problems at once) · ja 一石二鳥 (solve two problems at once) · hu két legyet üt egy csapásra (solve two problems at once) · it prendere due piccioni con una fava (solve two problems at once) · cmn 一舉兩得 /一举两得 (solve two problems at once) · pt matar dois coelhos com uma cajadada só (solve two problems at once) · he תפס שתי ציפורים במכה אחת (solve two problems at once) · tr bir taşla iki kuş vurmak (solve two problems at once) · yi שיסן צוויי האָזן מיט איין שאָס (solve two problems at once) · id sekali mendayung, dua-tiga pulau terlampaui (solve two problems at once) · fi tappaa kaksi kärpästä yhdellä iskulla (solve two problems at once) · yue 一舉兩得 /一举两得 (solve two problems at once) · la Duo parietes de eadem fidelia dealbare (solve two problems at once) · lt vienu šūviu nušauti du zuikius (solve two problems at once) · de zwei Fliegen mit einer Klappe schlagen (solve two problems at once) · ms sambil menyelam minum air (solve two problems at once) · cmn 一箭雙雕 /一箭双雕 (solve two problems at once) · da slå to fluer med et smæk (solve two problems at once) · ru уби́ть одни́м вы́стрелом двух за́йцев (solve two problems at once) · et tapma kaks kärbest ühe hoobiga (solve two problems at once) · az bir güllə ilə iki dovşan vurmaq (solve two problems at once) · af twee vlieë met een klap slaan (solve two problems at once) · fa با یک تیر دو نشان زدن (solve two problems at once) · br lazhañ div voualc'h gant ur maen (solve two problems at once) · no slå to fluer i en smekk (solve two problems at once) · ja 一挙両得 (solve two problems at once) · es matar dos pájaros de un tiro (solve two problems at once) · hy մի գնդակով երկու նապաստակ խփել (solve two problems at once) · vi một mũi tên trúng hai đích (solve two problems at once) · ckb بە بەردێک دوو چۆلەکە بکوژە (solve two problems at once) · ro omorî două muște dintr-o lovitură (solve two problems at once)

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