The Archive

Etymology Journal ยท K

Kill two birds with one stone

Meaning

Accomplishing two separate tasks with a single action or effort. It is the hallmark of a person trying to be efficient with their schedule.

Efficient, practical

Used in a sentence

  • I can stop by the post office on the way to the grocery store to kill two birds with one stone.
  • Let us schedule the meeting during lunch to kill two birds with one stone.
  • Running while listening to a podcast really helps me kill two birds with one stone.

The backstory

This phrase appears in various forms in literature as early as the 17th century. It evokes a hunter or a farmer trying to be economical with their ammunition.

Heard in

Nationwide

Vibe check