Kill two birds with one stone
Suggest a CorrectionMeaning
To achieve two goals with a single action, maximizing efficiency.
Origin
From ancient Rome, Ovid's 8 CE 'Metamorphoses' hints at dual gains with one blow, but English set it in a 1656 proverb by John Ray as 'kill two birds. ' Possibly tied to slingshot hunting-two kills, one rock-it reflects a pre-industrial knack for economy. By the 19th century, Dickens' 1843 'Martin Chuzzlewit' used it, cementing a pithy idiom from rural thrift to urban hustle.
Variants
- Two birds one stone
- Kill two with one
Usage Examples
- I'll kill two birds with one stone; shopping and visiting Mom.
- He killed two birds with one stone by fixing the leak and cleaning.
- This meeting kills two birds with one stone; planning and updates.
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