kill two birds with one stone
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
To achieve two goals with a single action.
How to use it
✓ Use it when
Describing an efficient move that solves two problems.
✗ Avoid it when
Some speakers now prefer gentler variants like “feed two birds with one scone.”
Register: neutralConnotation: efficientEra: 17th century – present
Examples
Editorial example (illustrative, not a corpus attestation)
Sources & notes
Figurative class: Metaphor (PIE-English corpus, CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-31).
Equivalents & related
Lighter cards are two steps away in the meaning graph — equivalents of equivalents, reached via the entry shown on the card.
Common questions
What does “kill two birds with one stone” mean?
To achieve two goals with a single action. Literally: To hit two birds with one thrown stone.
Is “kill two birds with one stone” formal or informal?
kill two birds with one stone is generally neutral; connotation: efficient.
What is the closest equivalent?
“một công đôi việc” (Tiếng Việt) — near equivalent.