Two Crows Being an Attempted Murder is an informal pun about two crows sitting together. It plays on the traditional expression a murder of crows, which refers to a group of crows. By adding attempted, the joke imagines that the two birds are trying to form a larger group.
If you searched for Two Crows Being an Attempted Murder, the phrase does not describe a real crime or a scientific term. It is simply wordplay built around the double meaning of murder:
- A murder of crows is a traditional collective noun for a group of crows.
- An attempted murder humorously suggests that two crows have not yet formed the full group.
In short, Two Crows Being an Attempted Murder is best used as a light, informal caption or conversational joke.
What Does “Two Crows Being an Attempted Murder” Mean?
The phrase jokingly describes two crows as an incomplete murder of crows. It uses imaginary logic: if a group of crows is called a murder, then two crows are supposedly attempting to become one.
For example, imagine two crows perched on a telephone wire. Someone might say:
Look at that attempted murder.
The speaker is not claiming that the birds tried to kill anyone. Instead, the phrase combines a familiar legal expression with a traditional animal collective noun.
The joke works because the wording sounds serious at first. Once the listener connects murder with crows, the meaning changes from criminal language to bird-related wordplay.
How the Pun Works
The double meaning of “murder”
In everyday English, murder usually refers to the unlawful killing of another person. In a murder of crows, however, the word functions as a collective noun for a group of birds.
That creates three connected meanings:
- Legal meaning: murder is a serious criminal act.
- Collective-noun meaning: a murder is a traditional term for a group of crows.
- Comic meaning: two crows are presented as an attempted murder.
The expression depends on the listener recognizing both meanings. Without the crow-related expression, attempted murder sounds like a straightforward legal phrase. With it, the same words become a pun.
Why “attempted” makes the joke funny
The word attempted supplies the punchline. It suggests that two crows have not formed a complete group, so they are only trying to become a murder.
This is deliberately invented logic. English does not set an official minimum number of crows for the phrase a murder of crows. Two crows do not technically become an attempted murder, and a larger group does not automatically receive that label under a scientific rule.
The humor comes from pretending that collective nouns work like legal categories. The speaker treats the birds as though they have failed to meet the requirements for a full murder.
Literal meaning versus intended meaning
Taken literally, attempted murder refers to a serious criminal allegation. Applied to two crows, it becomes figurative and playful.
Someone unfamiliar with a murder of crows may not understand the joke immediately. They might hear only the legal meaning and wonder what the birds supposedly did. Once the collective noun is explained, the wordplay becomes clear.
This is especially relevant for English learners. Understanding the phrase requires knowledge of both an unusual collective noun and the ordinary legal meaning of murder.
The Origin of “A Murder of Crows”
What is a collective noun?
A collective noun refers to a group considered as a unit. Common examples include:
- A flock of birds
- A herd of cattle
- A team of players
- A murder of crows
Collective nouns belong to language and tradition. They do not usually describe a biological category or establish a scientific rule.
For example, a murder of crows is a colorful way to describe a group. A scientist or bird survey does not need to use that expression. In a factual setting, a group of crows, a flock of crows, or two crows may be clearer.
The Cambridge English Dictionary recognizes a murder of crows as a term for a group of crows. It also suggests that the expression may relate to historical associations between crows, death, and scavenging around battlefields.
What is known about the term’s history?
A murder of crows belongs to a broader tradition of imaginative animal group names. Many such expressions appeared in older English word lists and literary sources. Some remained familiar, while others disappeared from everyday use.
The expression’s dark tone may have helped it survive. Crows have often appeared in folklore and literature alongside ideas about death, battlefields, carrion, mystery, and ominous signs. Those associations can make murder feel like a natural poetic description.
However, a popular explanation is not necessarily a proven origin. The exact history of many collective nouns is uncertain. Therefore, it is better to say that the phrase has a long traditional history than to claim that one particular legend definitively created it.
The history of the traditional collective noun should also be separated from the history of the modern two-crow joke. A murder of crows has documented usage. The exact first use or creator of an attempted murder for two crows may not be known.
How the traditional term enables the modern joke
The modern pun depends on the older expression. If people did not recognize a murder of crows, the phrase attempted murder would have no special connection to two birds.
The traditional term provides the setup. The word attempted then adds a comic variation by pretending that the group is incomplete.
Is “An Attempted Murder” an Official Term for Two Crows?
No. An attempted murder is best understood as an informal pun, not an official term for two crows.
It is not generally recognized as:
- A formal collective noun
- A scientific classification
- A standard birdwatching term
- A rule about the number of crows in a group
- A legal description of bird behavior
The factual description is simply two crows or a pair of crows. Calling them an attempted murder adds humor but not accuracy.
It is also misleading to say that three or more crows automatically form a murder. Collective nouns are conventional expressions, not measurement systems. The phrase can describe a group, but it does not establish a universal numerical threshold.
Comparing the Related Expressions
| Expression | Meaning or status |
| A murder of crows | A traditional collective noun for a group of crows |
| Two crows | A plain factual description of two birds |
| An attempted murder | An informal pun based on the collective noun |
| Attempted murder | A legal phrase with a jurisdiction-specific meaning |
These expressions may share the word murder, but they do not have the same function. The first describes a traditional language usage. The second describes birds plainly. The third creates a joke. The fourth belongs to criminal law.
The legal meaning of “attempted murder”
In general terms, attempted murder refers to an intentional effort to unlawfully kill another person that does not result in the intended killing. The precise definition varies by jurisdiction. Legal systems may differ on issues such as intent, the required conduct, and what counts as an attempt.
That legal meaning has no connection to the behavior of the crows in the joke. A caption describing two birds as an attempted murder does not accuse anyone of a crime or establish criminal intent.
Because criminal law differs between jurisdictions, this phrase should not be treated as having one universal legal definition. Anyone dealing with a real criminal matter should consult an attorney or an official legal source for the applicable jurisdiction.
How to Use the Phrase
The expression works best in informal settings where the audience can recognize the wordplay. Suitable contexts include:
- A humorous social-media caption
- Casual conversation
- An informal blog or personal story
- A lighthearted birdwatching observation
- An explanation of English puns or collective nouns
Here are original examples:
Two crows on the telephone wire—an attempted murder.
The rest of the group has not arrived. We have an attempted murder so far.
That is not a full murder of crows. It is only an attempted murder.
These are illustrative examples, not documented quotations. Each one uses an ordinary bird sighting to create a contrast with serious criminal language.
The phrase can also work in dialogue. For instance, a character might see two crows on a roof and make the remark as a dry observation. The humor comes from describing a harmless scene in mock-serious terms.
Timing and audience
Timing affects whether the joke is understood. It usually works best when the listener knows that the subject is two crows. That context makes the bird-related meaning of murder easier to recognize.
If the audience does not know the traditional expression, add a short explanation:
A group of crows is traditionally called a murder, so two of them are jokingly an attempted murder.
Explaining the joke may reduce its surprise, but it helps English learners and readers who are unfamiliar with collective nouns.
Audience awareness matters too. The phrase borrows language associated with homicide, so it may sound too dark or insensitive in some settings. A casual nature caption and a conversation about real violence do not carry the same tone.
When Not to Use the Joke
Avoid the phrase in formal or sensitive contexts, including:
- Legal documents
- Academic papers
- Scientific writing
- News reports
- Official bird surveys
- Conversations about real homicide or violence
- Discussions involving grief, trauma, or criminal victims
In these situations, clarity and sensitivity matter more than wordplay. Calling two crows an attempted murder could create confusion or appear careless.
Do not present the expression as an official ornithological term or a legal phrase. It is more accurate to describe it as a humorous extension of a murder of crows.
Common Misunderstandings
It does not mean the crows attacked someone
The phrase is figurative. It does not suggest that the birds attempted to kill a person or another animal.
It is not a criminal charge involving birds
Attempted murder has a legal meaning in criminal law. The crow version is only a pun and has no legal effect.
It is not a scientific classification
Ornithologists may describe birds as a pair, flock, population, or group, depending on the context. An attempted murder is not a scientific category.
Two crows do not officially form an attempted murder
The word attempted exists only for comic effect. No established rule assigns that label to exactly two crows.
The two expressions may have different origins
A murder of crows has a traditional history. The newer joke about two crows may have circulated through informal speech, captions, memes, or other online settings. Unless a reliable source identifies its first use, its exact origin should remain uncertain.
The phrase is not necessarily a standard idiom
A joke can appear in many informal examples without becoming a fixed expression. It is safer to describe this phrase as an informal pun than to claim that it is universally recognized.
Why the Phrase Works as Language Humor
The phrase combines serious wording with an ordinary scene. Two birds sitting together are harmless, but attempted murder makes the situation sound dramatic.
It also relies on linguistic ambiguity. The word murder shifts from its legal meaning to its collective-noun meaning. The listener must reinterpret the phrase after learning that the subject is crows.
The joke uses mock precision as well. It pretends that English has a formal grading system for crow groups: a large group is a murder, while two birds are still attempting to become one. That invented classification is what makes the phrase absurd.
More broadly, unusual collective nouns create opportunities for wordplay. Once a group has an unexpected name, speakers can reshape it, exaggerate it, or combine it with familiar expressions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Is “two crows being an attempted murder” grammatically natural?
It is understandable as a joke, but it is not a standard grammatical expression. More natural humorous versions include an attempted murder or Two crows? Attempted murder.
Q2. Can I call any pair of crows an “attempted murder”?
You can do so jokingly, but the phrase has no official rule behind it. It is a creative pun, not a recognized label for every pair of crows.
Q3. Does “murder of crows” describe the birds’ behavior?
No. It is a traditional collective noun, not a scientific description of how crows behave. A neutral description would be two crows, a pair of crows, or a group of crows.
Q4. Why might the joke not work for everyone?
Some people may not know the collective noun, while others may focus on the phrase’s connection to homicide. A brief explanation or a less sensitive setting can make the intended humor clearer.
Q5. Is “attempted murder of crows” the same as “an attempted murder”?
Not quite. An attempted murder is the compact pun. Adding of crows can make the meaning clearer, but it may also sound closer to a literal crime-related statement. For a caption, Two crows: an attempted murder is usually clearer.
Conclusion
Two Crows Being an Attempted Murder works as a playful extension of a murder of crows. The humor comes from applying the serious phrase attempted murder to an ordinary sighting of two birds.
Use it as informal wordplay in captions, casual conversation, or humorous writing. If your audience may not know the traditional expression—or if the setting involves real violence or grief—choose clearer, more neutral wording instead.