Dictionary

two birds with one stone en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Etymology

From the phrase kill two birds with one stone.

Meanings

1. (idiomatic, plural, plural-only) Any two things that were performed or completed at the same time by one action.
   • On another occasion, when trying to brainstorm things I could do to make myself feel better despite all the pandemic restrictions, Woebot suggested I “try doing something nice for someone in your life,” like make a calming tea for my housemate or check in with a loved one. I poured my mum some chamomile: Two birds, one stone. 2022 September 27, Barclay Bram, “My Therapist, the Robot”, in The New York Times:
   • They talk about how 'these places' [pornographic bookstores] are gathering spots for homosexuals. The implication is that if you close down 'these places' you get two birds with one stone. 1985 August 17, Janice Irvine, quoting Nan Hunter, “Meese's Crew Looks at Porn”, in Gay Community News, volume 13, number 6, page 3:

Forms

Relateds

twofer

Translations (16)

fr d'une pierre deux coups (two things by one action) · hu két legyet egy csapásra (two things by one action) · el μ’ ένα σμπάρο δυο τρυγόνια (two things by one action) · es carambola (two things by one action) · de zwei Fliegen mit einer Klappe (two things by one action) · ga dhá éan leis an urchar amháin (two things by one action) · ar عُصْفُورَان بِحَجَر وَاحِد (two things by one action) · ar طَائِرَان بِحَجَر وَاحِد (two things by one action) · it due piccioni con una fava (two things by one action) · nb to fluer i én/ett smekk (two things by one action) · es doblete (two things by one action) · da to fluer med et smæk (two things by one action) · is tvær flugur í einu höggi (two things by one action) · tr bir taşla iki kuş (two things by one action) · nl twee vliegen in een klap (two things by one action) · es dupleta (two things by one action)