- Meaning
- This idiom describes accomplishing two goals or tasks with a single action, maximizing efficiency by addressing multiple objectives simultaneously, as if hitting two birds with one thrown stone. It conveys strategic multitasking or resourcefulness, used in professional, personal, or planning contexts to praise or encourage clever solutions. The phrase carries a tone of ingenuity, satisfaction, or pragmatism, reflecting cultural values of productivity and economy of effort, particularly in busy or resource-scarce environments. It resonates in societies that prize efficiency, highlighting the human knack for finding streamlined solutions, and often implies a sense of triumph in achieving more with less. The idiom’s vivid imagery adds a layer of visceral impact, though its hunting metaphor can feel dated or controversial in modern animal-sensitive contexts.
- Origin
- The phrase has roots in ancient proverbs, with a Latin precursor *duos parietes de eodem fidelis dealbare* (‘to whiten two walls with one brush’) attributed to Plautus (3rd century BCE). In English, it appeared in the 17th century, with John Ray’s 1678 *English Proverbs* recording: ‘To kill two birds with one stone.’ The idiom likely drew from hunting practices where slingshots or stones were used, as seen in rural English life. It gained traction in the 18th century, reflecting Enlightenment emphasis on efficiency, as noted in Samuel Johnson’s essays. Its use grew in 19th-century British and American literature, with Charles Dickens’ *David Copperfield* (1850) employing it for clever planning. The phrase’s adoption was amplified in the 20th century through industrial and corporate efficiency movements, notably in Frederick Taylor’s scientific management theories. Its spread across English-speaking cultures was fueled by its universal appeal in task-oriented societies, ensuring its enduring use, from Victorian workshops to modern productivity hacks, despite occasional critiques for its violent imagery.
- Variants
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- Kill two birds with one stone
- Kill two birds with one shot
- Hit two birds with one stone
- Take down two birds with one stone
- Examples
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- Kill two birds with one stone by exercising while listening to your work podcast.
- Kill two birds with one shot—she networked and learned new skills at the conference.
- Hit two birds with one stone, dropping off the package while visiting family.
- Take down two birds with one stone by combining the team meeting with a training session.
- She killed two birds with one stone, cleaning the house while catching up on calls.
- Kill two birds with one stone—shop for groceries and pick up your prescription in one trip.
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