faire d’une pierre deux coups

“Faire d’une pierre deux coups” is a French idiom that literally translates as “to make two strikes with one stone.” It means to reach several objectives with a single action, or to achieve two things at the same time with a single action.

The English equivalent of this French saying is “to kill two birds with one stone.”

The French expression is attributed to Montaigne in the 16th century, but may well date back earlier.

Don’t miss out on new posts – subscribe now!

Don’t miss new articles!

Get 1 email a week with new articles about French

We don’t spam! Read more in our privacy policy

Similar Posts

  • to grow

    How do you translate the English verb “to grow” into French? There is not a single French verb that covers all the different meanings of “to grow,” so you need to select the appropriate verb from the following list of verbs. cultiver (cultivate, grow) grandir (grow up, grow) pousser (push, grow) augmenter (increase, grow) devenir (become,…

  • Verb: réussir

    The French verb “réussir” means “to succeed,” but it can also mean “to achieve,” “to carry off (something) successfully,” “to win,” or “to pass (an exam).” Etymology: The word “réussir” was borrowed in the early 16th century from the Italian verb “riuscire,” meaning “to re-issue” or “to go out again.” The Italian “riuscire,” is made up…

  • pour des prunes

    “Pour des prunes” is a French expression that literally means “for plums.” Its closest English equivalent is “for nothing.” The saying dates from the start of the 16th century. However, the association of plums with a complete lack of value dates back to the end of the Second Crusade, which finished around 1150 AD and was…

  • Verb: rappeler & se rappeler

    Meanings:“Rappeler” is a transitive verb, meaning “to remind” or “to call back.” It means to bring something or someone to one’s attention again. On the other hand, “se rappeler” is a reflexive verb, meaning “to remember” or “to recall.” Conjugation:Note the irregular spelling in the singular forms (je, tu & il) and the third person…