kill two birds with one stone

idiom/kɪl tuː bɜːrdz wɪð wʌn stoʊn/ 🔊 listen

Kill two birds with one stone means to accomplish two goals with a single action, saving time and effort. It's one of the most universal idioms — almost every language has an equivalent.

📖 Meanings

1to accomplish two things with one action
"I'll go to the bank and do the shopping — kill two birds with one stone." — I'll handle both errands in one trip.
2to use one opportunity for two purposes
"Walking to work kills two birds — I save money and stay fit." — Walking achieves two goals at once.

🔄 Related phrases

multitask →one fell swoop →get two things done →

💬 Common patterns

kill two birds with one stonethis kills two birdsa chance to kill two birds
❓ Someone says "I'll exercise and listen to podcasts — kill two birds." What do they mean?