Example: Mit diesem Plan schlagen wir zwei Fliegen mit einer Klappe.
Definition
"Zwei Fliegen mit einer Klappe schlagen" is a German idiom meaning to achieve two goals with a single action or effort. It describes efficiently solving multiple problems or tasks simultaneously, much like hitting two flies with one swat, as in the example: "Mit diesem Plan schlagen wir zwei Fliegen mit einer Klappe."
The phrase "zwei Fliegen mit einer Klappe schlagen" literally translates to "hit two flies with one swat." It originates from a practical farming or household context where people aimed to kill two flies with one slap to save effort. This metaphorical expression evolved into a common idiom in German, emphasizing efficiency and cleverness in accomplishing multiple objectives at once.
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"Zwei Fliegen mit einer Klappe schlagen" appears in the Vocaplus list "", containing 105 commonly used expressions.
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kill two birds with one stone