English idiom

kill two birds with one stone

Register · Neutral CEFR B1

Post

Figurative meaning

To accomplish two tasks with a single effort or action.

Why this phrase?

Pictures a single thrown stone bringing down two birds at once.

Example

“By cycling to work I kill two birds with one stone: I save money and stay fit.”

Recorded usage

These full forms were measured in COCA in 2016–2017. Counts apply to the quoted form, not every use of this idiom; overlapping forms are not added together.

“Kill two birds with one stone” — 47 recorded occurrences

Grouped source variants; editorially classified here as an idiom. Usage counts are separate from CEFR difficulty.

Dictionary details

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

bang for your buck

the value or impact you get for the money or effort spent

cut corners

To do something cheaply or quickly by skipping important steps, often lowering quality.

cut to the chase

To get to the important point without wasting time.

have several balls in the air

to be managing multiple projects or commitments at once

reinvent the wheel

to waste time recreating something that already exists and works well

have too many irons in the fire

To be involved in too many activities at once.

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

External links

markdown