kill two birds with one stone
Single action, twin results
To kill two birds with one stone is to accomplish two things with a single action or effort.
The idiom emphasizes efficiency—one move, double the result: I'll drop off the package on my way to the gym and kill two birds with one stone.
Sometimes shortened to two birds, one stone.
- one fell swoopSingle sudden action
- twoferSingle-price pair deal
- two for oneSingle price, double goods
- accomplishComplete successfully
- economySystem of trade and production
double duty · stretch a dollar · productivity · efficiency · clever · strategy · multitask · resourceful · consolidate · while one is at it · cover all bases · streamline · optimize · manage · cut corners · hit · effective · tactic
kill two birds with one stonereinvent the wheel
Redo unnecessary groundwork
go back to the drawing board · inefficiency · miss the forest for the trees · compartmentalize · spin one's wheels
kill two birds with one stonecome up empty
strike out · fall flat · fumble the ball · drop the ball · blow it
kill two birds with one stonesingle-tasking
Focusing on one activity
miss the forest for the trees · tunnel vision · compartmentalize · unitasking
killed, killing, killer, killers, birding, birder, stones, stoned, stonework