Kill two birds with one stone

Definition

To accomplish two different objectives with a single action; to achieve multiple goals simultaneously through one effort.

Etymology

This phrase dates back to the 1650s and comes from the practice of hunting birds with stones. The idea of achieving such precision and efficiency that one stone could kill two birds became a metaphor for any remarkably efficient action.

Kelly Says

In our efficiency-obsessed world, this phrase has become almost a mantra for productivity. It's fascinating how a somewhat violent hunting metaphor became the gold standard for describing smart multitasking and resource optimization!

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.