‘Kill Two Birds With One Stone’: Definition, Meaning and Examples

Has someone told you they’re going to ‘kill two birds with one stone’? Are you wondering what that means? In this article, we’ll clear up the definition and meaning, plus reveal the origin of the phrase and teach you how to use it correctly in a sentence.

In short:

• ‘Kill two birds with one stone’ means completing two tasks at once.

Essentially, the phrase means to succeed in achieving two things using a single action.

What Does ‘Kill Two Birds With One Stone’ Mean?

‘Kill two birds with one stone’ is a phrase people use when they’re trying to accomplish more than one task at a time (or when they already have). People use it to mean they’re using one action to complete two tasks.

You might hear someone say this phrase if:

• They were able to work out and read a book at the same time.

That’s killing two birds with one stone.

Another example of 'killing two birds with one stone' is:

• Someone took a shower and brushed their teeth at the same time, as some people often do.

In season 2, episode 20, the narrator of the show says:

• ‘And in that moment, Rogelio realized he could kill two birds with one stone.’

He’s referring to how Rogelio can use his son-in-law, Michael’s new position as a technical advisor on the TV show he works on to both build him up and tear down his acting nemesis, Esteban Reyes.

Where Does ‘Kill Two Birds With One Stone’ Come From? 

The phrase ‘kill two birds with one stone’ first appeared in a piece of writing from 1656 in The Questions Concerning Liberty, Necessity, and Chance by Thomas Hobbes.

The quote reads:

“T.H. thinks to kill two birds with one stone and satisfies two Arguments with one answer, whereas in truth he satisfieth neither.”

Some believe it comes from the story of Daedalus and Icarus from Greek Mythology.

Daedalus 'killed two birds with one stone' to get the feathers from the birds to make wings. The father and son pair supposedly escaped from the Labyrinth on Crete by making wings and flying away.

Another theory states that the idiomatic expression comes from The Proverbs of John Heywood, published in 1546. That phrase is written:

‘I will learn to stop two gaps with one bush.’

Examples of ‘Kill Two Birds With One Stone’ in Sentences

How would you use ‘kill two birds with one stone’ in a sentence?

Let’s see some examples:

• I have to go pick up my prescription at Rite Aid, and while I’m there, I might as well get some juice too. I’ll kill two birds with one stone.
• Miss Janis said she was going to kill two birds with one stone by doing her homework for her Ph.D. here at work. I told her I wouldn’t tell anyone, and she smiled and thanked me.
• I’ll pick up the flowers for my mom’s birthday and get the groceries all at the grocery store, killing two birds with one stone.
• I have to go to the post office, which is right next to the bakery. I’ll make one trip and kill two birds with one stone.
• I decided to have lunch and read over my script at the same time, killing two birds with one stone. I figured it was best to get a head start so I’d be miles ahead of the rest of the cast.
• It’s Valentine’s Day, and I have to get flowers and candy for my wife. I’ll kill two birds with one stone and go to the supermarket.
• I want to watch a movie, but I want pizza too. Let’s go to the dine-in theater and kill two birds with one stone.
• When I was in college, I would study in the cafeteria. I’d eat and study at the same time, killing two birds with one stone.

Other Ways to Say ‘Kill Two Birds With One Stone’

What other words and phrases convey the same meaning as ‘kill two birds with one stone’?

Let’s see some examples: 

• Free two birds with one key
• Flutter two hearts with one look
• Pull two weeds with one yank
• Water two plants with one hose
• Get two giggles from one tickle
• Tickle two tummies with one finger
• Be victorious
• Carry two faces under one hood
• Do everything in one fell swoop
• Fill two needs with one deed
• To stop two mouths with one morsel
• Make two friends with one gift
• Feed two birds with one seed
• Accomplish two different things at the same time
• Solve two problems with one single action
• Achieve two things with a single action
• Achieve two ends with a single effort

Concluding Thoughts on ‘Kill Two Birds With One Stone’

To recap:

• ‘Kill two birds with one stone’ means completing two tasks at once.

Remember, the phrase means to succeed in achieving two things using a single action.

If you ever get stuck on anything, you can always come back and review what you learned. We’ve got a whole library of content on idioms you might find useful on your journey to learning the language. Feel free to check it out.