hat trick
B2Neutral to Informal, primarily journalistic and sporting contexts.
Definition
Meaning
The feat of achieving three successes, especially three goals or wickets scored by the same player in a single game of cricket, football (soccer), hockey, etc.
Any notable instance of achieving three consecutive or closely linked successes in any field or activity, such as three wins, awards, or significant accomplishments.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Originally a cricket term. The term implies a distinctive, exceptional achievement. While strongly associated with sports, its use in other domains relies on this sporting metaphor.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is common in both varieties. It originated in British cricket. In US sports, it is most frequently used in ice hockey and sometimes in soccer reporting, less so in baseball or American football.
Connotations
In both varieties, it carries strong positive connotations of skill and a rare achievement. In the UK, its cricket origins give it a slightly traditional flavour.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in UK English due to the term's origin and the centrality of football and cricket, but very well-established in US English for hockey and soccer.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[player] scored a hat trick[player]'s hat trick secured [result]a hat trick by [player]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A perfect hat trick (football)”
- “A natural hat trick (hockey: three consecutive goals by one player in a single period)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"The startup achieved a hat trick this quarter: a major funding round, a product launch, and record user growth."
Academic
Rare. Possibly in statistics or history: "The researcher's hat trick of publications in top journals was remarkable."
Everyday
"She pulled off a hat trick today—she got a promotion, her car was repaired, and she won tickets to the concert!"
Technical
Primarily in sports analytics and commentary.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The striker hat-tricked his way to the Man of the Match award. (informal, rare)
American English
- He hat-tricked in the second period to seal the game. (informal, rare)
adjective
British English
- A hat-trick performance from the winger won the cup.
- A hat-trick hero.
American English
- Her hat-trick game was the highlight of the season.
- The hat-trick scorer was swarmed by fans.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The football player scored three goals. It was a hat trick.
- She was the star of the match after scoring a hat trick in the final twenty minutes.
- The young forward's stunning hat trick, completed with a spectacular volley, secured his team's place in the semi-finals.
- Achieving a hat trick of prestigious literary awards in as many years cemented her reputation as the foremost novelist of her generation.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a magician pulling not one, but THREE rabbits out of a HAT. That TRICK is so impressive, it's a 'hat trick' of rabbits.
Conceptual Metaphor
ACHIEVEMENT IS A MAGIC TRICK / SUCCESS IS A SPORTING FEAT.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate literally as "шляпный фокус". The established translation is "хет-трик".
- Avoid confusing with "тройной" (triple) in non-sporting contexts where the specific 'three-in-one-game' metaphor is lost.
Common Mistakes
- Using it for any set of three things without the connotation of a singular, notable achievement (e.g., 'I ate a hat trick of biscuits' is incorrect).
- Spelling as one word: 'hattrick' is a common variant but 'hat trick' is standard.
Practice
Quiz
In which of these contexts is the use of 'hat trick' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It originated in 19th-century cricket. A bowler who took three wickets with three consecutive balls was traditionally awarded a new hat by their club.
Yes, it is commonly used metaphorically in business, politics, and everyday language to denote three significant successes, but the sporting connection is always implied.
In football (soccer), a perfect hat trick is when a player scores one goal with their right foot, one with their left foot, and one with their head.
Yes, primarily in ice hockey. It is also used in soccer (MLS) and occasionally in other sports commentary, but it is not a native term to baseball or American football, which have their own terms for multiple successes.