killing two birds with one stone
One action, two results
Killing two birds with one stone means accomplishing two goals with a single action.
The image is of efficiency—one effort, double the result: I'll drop off the package on my way to the gym, killing two birds with one stone.
The phrase sometimes draws playful variations from those squeamish about dead birds.
- repurposingAdapting for different use
- innovationCreating something original
- multitaskingDoing several things concurrently
- practicalityQuality of being useful
- optimizationMaximizing efficiency or performance
wearing many hats · streamlining · one-stop shop · trade-offs · best of both worlds · critical thinking · synergy · creative solutions · one fell swoop · ingenuity · strategic planning · simplification · dual-purpose · economizing · consolidation · resourcefulness · cost-benefit analysis · prioritization
killing two birds with one stoneinefficiency
Suboptimal use of resources
spinning one's wheels · redundancy · spinning your wheels · reinventing the wheel · burning the candle at both ends
killing two birds with one stonesingle-tasking
Focusing on one activity
chasing one's tail · running in place · missing the mark · striking out · treading water
killed, killer, killers, birdie, birdies, birding, stones, stoned