kill two birds with one stone
achieve two things with one action
In Spanish
achieve two things with one action
Examples
- If I pick up groceries on the way home, I'll kill two birds with one stone.
- By cleaning the house while listening to audiobooks, she kills two birds with one stone.
- He decided to cycle to work to exercise and save on transport costs, killing two birds with one stone.
When it's used
This idiom is commonly used in everyday speech to describe an action that achieves two goals. It is informal and can be heard in casual conversations. It is not a technical or specialized idiom.
The common mistake
A common mistake is using an incorrect plural form, such as 'kill two birds with one stones'. The word 'stone' is always singular in this expression.
Related idioms
FROM WHAT YOU READ TO WHAT YOU SAY
Recognising it isn't the same as using it
Reading an idiom and understanding it is step one. Dropping it into a conversation, at the right moment, without stopping to think, is another — and that only comes from speaking.
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