Phrase guide

two birds with one stone

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

Any two things that were performed or completed at the same time by one action.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, plural, plural-only

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From the phrase kill two birds with one stone.

Across languages

Translations

16 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: عُصْفُورَان بِحَجَر وَاحِد (ʕuṣfūrān biḥajar wāḥid) — two things by one action
  • Arabic: طَائِرَان بِحَجَر وَاحِد (ṭāʔirān biḥajar wāḥid) — two things by one action
  • Danish: to fluer med et smæk — two things by one action
  • Dutch: twee vliegen in een klap — two things by one action
  • French: d'une pierre deux coups — two things by one action
  • German: zwei Fliegen mit einer Klappe — two things by one action
  • Greek: μ’ ένα σμπάρο δυο τρυγόνια (m’ éna smpáro dyo trygónia) — two things by one action
  • Hungarian: két legyet egy csapásra — two things by one action
  • Icelandic: tvær flugur í einu höggi — two things by one action
  • Irish: dhá éan leis an urchar amháin — two things by one action
  • Italian: due piccioni con una fava — two things by one action
  • Norwegian Bokmål: to fluer i én/ett smekk — two things by one action
  • Spanish: carambola — two things by one action
  • Spanish: dupleta — two things by one action
  • Spanish: doblete — two things by one action
  • Turkish: bir taşla iki kuş — two things by one action