three of a kind: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal
Quick answer
What does “three of a kind” mean?
In card games, a hand containing three cards of the same rank.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
In card games, a hand containing three cards of the same rank.
Three identical or very similar items or people; a set of three matching things.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in definition or usage. Slight variation in collocations based on regional card-playing slang (e.g., 'trips' as a more common informal synonym in American poker).
Connotations
Neutral in the card game context. The extended metaphorical use often carries a slightly humorous or wry connotation.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both varieties within the context of card games. The metaphorical use may be slightly more common in British informal speech.
Grammar
How to Use “three of a kind” in a Sentence
[Subject] has/gets/dealt three of a kind.[Subject] is three of a kind.It's a three of a kind.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “three of a kind” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- He was holding a three-of-a-kind hand.
American English
- It was a three-of-a-kind situation.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Everyday
Used metaphorically: 'The triplets are three of a kind – they all love football.'
Technical
A standard poker hand ranking.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “three of a kind”
- Confusing it with 'a kind of three' (incorrect). Using it as an adjective without the article 'a' (e.g., 'They are three of kind').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, in standard poker hand rankings, a straight beats three of a kind.
Yes, figuratively. It means three people who are very similar in character or behaviour.
Three of a kind is three cards of one rank. A full house is three of a kind plus a pair of another rank, and is a stronger hand.
When used attributively (before a noun), it is often hyphenated: 'a three-of-a-kind hand'. Otherwise, it is not.
In card games, a hand containing three cards of the same rank.
Three of a kind is usually informal in register.
Three of a kind: in British English it is pronounced /ˌθriː əv ə ˈkaɪnd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌθri əv ə ˈkaɪnd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “They're three of a kind.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the three little pigs – if they were all made of the same material (straw, sticks, or bricks), they'd be 'three of a kind'.
Conceptual Metaphor
IDENTICAL OBJECTS ARE CARDS OF THE SAME RANK.
Practice
Quiz
What does 'three of a kind' literally mean in poker?