IdiomAnimals
Spanish
SpanishMatar dos pájaros de un tiro
Meaning: To get two things done with a single action.
Literally: To kill two birds with one shot
Example: “Aprovecho el viaje a Madrid para ver a mis primos, y así mato dos pájaros de un tiro.” — I'm using the trip to Madrid to see my cousins too, so I'll kill two birds with one stone.
English equivalent: To kill two birds with one stone
Equivalents in other languages
Korean: 꿩 먹고 알 먹고 (Kkwong meokgo al meokgo) Literally: Eating the pheasant and its egg too
French: Faire d'une pierre deux coups Literally: To make two blows with one stone
Italian: Prendere due piccioni con una fava Literally: To catch two pigeons with one fava bean
Indonesian: Sambil menyelam minum air Literally: While diving, drink water
Chinese: 一箭双雕 (Yī jiàn shuāng diāo) Literally: One arrow, two hawks
English: kill two birds with one stone
Japanese: 一石二鳥 (Isseki nichō) Literally: One stone, two birds
German: Zwei Fliegen mit einer Klappe schlagen Literally: To swat two flies with one swatter
Dutch: Twee vliegen in één klap slaan Literally: To swat two flies in one blow
Polish: Upiec dwie pieczenie na jednym ogniu Literally: To roast two roasts on one fire
Portuguese: Matar dois coelhos com uma cajadada só Literally: To kill two rabbits with one blow of the stick
Turkish: Bir taşla iki kuş vurmak Literally: To hit two birds with one stone
Origin: The usual Spanish form of the image, listed in the Royal Spanish Academy's dictionary under pájaro. Tiro means a shot or a throw, so it fits a hunter's gun as well as a thrown stone. No first use is documented.
More Spanish idioms
- Dijo la sartén al cazo Said when someone criticizes another person for a fault they have themselves.
- Estar en la edad del pavo To be at an awkward teenage phase.
- Tener mala leche To be in a foul mood or have bad intentions.
- No tener pelos en la lengua To speak very bluntly and honestly.
- Ser pan comido To be extremely easy.
- Dar calabazas To reject someone romantically.
Explore another collection: Proverbs
Short sayings of timeless wisdom from more than 50 cultures, each with its meaning and origin.
- A caballo regalado no se le mira el diente Don't criticize or question a gift.
- Al que madruga, Dios le ayuda Those who get up early and get to work are the ones who prosper.
- No por mucho madrugar amanece más temprano Some things can't be rushed; extra effort won't make them happen before their time.
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