“Hat Trick” means three scores or three comparable successes by the same person or side. The phrase is especially common in sport, but dictionaries also document broader figurative use for three successes.
ReviewedEvidence1 sourceSectionPhrases & Idioms
Quick answer
Three scores or three comparable successes by the same person or side.
Key details
Canonical FormHat Trick
Core Meaningthree scores or three comparable successes by the same person or side
Further guidance
History Boundary
This guide explains documented current meaning and does not claim a single inventor, exact coinage date, or absolute first use without direct evidence.
Meaning
three scores or three comparable successes by the same person or side
Usage Boundary
The phrase is especially common in sport, but dictionaries also document broader figurative use for three successes.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
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