# kill two birds with one stone

idiom · CEFR B1

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/kill-two-birds-with-one-stone
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To solve two problems with one single action.

## Examples

- I'll kill two birds with one stone and shop on my way home.
- By cycling to work, she kills two birds with one stone: saving money and staying fit.
- Holding the conference in her hometown let her kill two birds with one stone, presenting her research and visiting family.

## Origin

Attested in 17th-century English (used by Thomas Hobbes in 1656); the image of one act achieving two ends is ancient.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.