two birds, one stone

Gould is to go before the Legislature for legislation favorable to the elevated system. The cable road will oppose this. But while the fight between the two presumably rival companies wages hottest it is expected that there will be a halt and truce all of a sudden between the two, and as a compromise that each will consent that the legislation sought by the other shall be permitted to go through. Two birds, one stone—Jay scores a double victory.

1889 March 25, “Jay [Gould] and the Cable Road. Gould Bound to Keep a Grip on Rapid Transit. The Tireless Schemer Is Said to Have Acquired Control of the New-York Cable Railroad.”, in The New-York Times, volume XXXVIII, number 11,722, New York, N.Y., page 1, column 3

And now she was pitching to him over dinner? ‘Is that standard practice?’ ‘Well, strictly speaking, no. But we’re all crazy busy and we gotta eat, right? This way, two birds, one stone.’

2014, Karen Swan, chapter 21, in The Summer Without You, London: Macmillan, →ISBN, page 327

On another occasion, when trying to brainstorm things I could do to make myself feel better despite all the pandemic restrictions, Woebot suggested I “try doing something nice for someone in your life,” like make a calming tea for my housemate or check in with a loved one. I poured my mum some chamomile: Two birds, one stone.

2022 September 27, Barclay Bram, “My Therapist, the Robot”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 27 Sep 2022