IdiomAnimals
German
GermanZwei Fliegen mit einer Klappe schlagen
Meaning: To achieve two aims with a single action.
Literally: To swat two flies with one swatter
Example: “Wenn ich auf dem Heimweg tanke, kann ich gleich einkaufen. So schlage ich zwei Fliegen mit einer Klappe.” — If I get gas on the way home, I can do the shopping too. That's killing 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
Spanish: Matar dos pájaros de un tiro Literally: To kill two birds with one shot
Japanese: 一石二鳥 (Isseki nichō) Literally: One stone, two birds
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: Duden lists it as a colloquial expression for achieving a double purpose at once. The Klappe is a fly swatter (Fliegenklappe): one lucky swat, two dead flies. Dutch uses the same picture. No first use is documented.
More German idioms
- Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof I don't understand anything at all.
- Da steppt der Bär It's going to be a great party.
- Tomaten auf den Augen haben To be oblivious to what's right in front of you.
- Ich glaub mein Schwein pfeift I can't believe it! That's outrageous!
- Um den heißen Brei herumreden To beat around the bush.
- Schwein haben To be lucky; to get away with something by sheer good luck.
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