What have we stopped noticing?
The things we say, do, and accept without thinking twice.
Non-violenceanimalswork
“Kill two birds with one stone”
A good day's work, shown as two dead birds.
Look closer where it comes from, what it assumes, and the case for keeping it
What you mean by it
One action that solves two problems at once.
What it's actually picturing
The image chosen for efficiency is killing two animals with a single throw.
What it takes for granted
It treats killing animals as a neutral, even cheerful, picture of a good outcome.
Worth knowing
It dates to the 1600s, and you're not thinking about birds when you say it. Nobody is.
The case for keeping it
Idioms are frozen shortcuts. Reading every literal image as a present-day value statement overreads how language works.
Say it plainly
Solve two problems at onceTwo wins, one move
Or have some fun
Feed two birds with one scone
Where this comes from
- Bird play · Grammarphobia
- Animal-Friendly Idioms · TeachKind (PETA)