triple crown
C1Journalistic, Sports commentary, General informal.
Definition
Meaning
An achievement of winning three major, designated championships in a particular field.
Any significant achievement involving three major victories or awards in a series; by extension, a symbol of ultimate supremacy within a specific domain.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Capitalised ('Triple Crown') when referring to specific, official titles (e.g., in horse racing). Usually used as a compound noun; can function attributively (e.g., 'a Triple Crown winner').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'Triple Crown' primarily refers to rugby union (winning all matches in the Six Nations Championship between England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland) and horse racing (the 2000 Guineas, The Derby, and the St Leger). In the US, it dominantly refers to baseball (leading the league in batting average, home runs, and RBIs) and horse racing (the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes).
Connotations
Both carry strong connotations of historic prestige and extreme rarity. The British rugby context carries strong national rivalry connotations. The American baseball context emphasizes individual statistical dominance.
Frequency
Higher frequency in US media due to the prominence of baseball and the 'Triple Crown' of horse racing. In the UK, usage spikes annually during the Six Nations rugby tournament.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] wins/claims/secures the Triple Crowna bid/attempt/chance at the Triple Crownthe [sport] Triple CrownVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “the crown jewels of [sport]”
- “a shot at immortality”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Could metaphorically describe a company winning three major industry awards in a year.
Academic
Historical analysis of sporting achievements and their cultural impact.
Everyday
Discussing major sports news or using metaphorically for any triple achievement (e.g., "She got promoted, finished her degree, and bought a house—a real triple crown!").
Technical
Specific to sports statistics, breeding records in horse racing, and sports history.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The team hopes to triple-crown their season with a win this weekend. (rare, non-standard)
American English
- No standard verb form in use.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverbial form.
American English
- No standard adverbial form.
adjective
British English
- He is a Triple Crown-winning jockey.
- A Triple Crown season is the dream.
American English
- She is a Triple Crown contender.
- The Triple Crown races are spaced weeks apart.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The horse won three races. It was a big surprise.
- Winning the Triple Crown in baseball is a very rare event.
- The jockey's lifelong ambition was to secure the Triple Crown, a feat last achieved over two decades ago.
- Despite a valiant bid for the elusive Triple Crown, the filly faltered in the final leg, underscoring the immense physical and tactical demands of the challenge.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a king receiving THREE CROWNS placed on his head for three different victories.
Conceptual Metaphor
SUPREMACY IS A CROWN; ACHIEVEMENT IS A VALUABLE OBJECT (to be won).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'тройная корона' for non-established contexts; it's a fixed term. In rugby, it's 'Тройная корона' (capitalized). Do not confuse with 'трехкратный чемпион' (three-time champion), which refers to winning the same title three times, not three different titles.
Common Mistakes
- Using lowercase when referring to the official title ('He won the triple crown' vs. 'He won the Triple Crown'). Using it for any three wins, rather than three specific, pre-defined major titles. Confusing it with 'Grand Slam' (which often refers to winning all available major titles in a season).
Practice
Quiz
In which sport is the 'Triple Crown' an official statistical achievement for leading in three specific offensive categories?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is capitalized when referring to a specific, official title (e.g., the baseball Triple Crown, the English horse racing Triple Crown). In metaphorical or general use ('a triple crown of achievements'), lowercase is acceptable.
A 'Triple Crown' typically involves winning three specific, pre-existing major titles or leading in three statistical categories. A 'Grand Slam' often refers to winning all major titles available in a season or event (e.g., all four tennis majors). The terms are sport-specific and not interchangeable.
Yes, but it is a metaphorical extension. It is understood to mean achieving three major, defined successes in any field (e.g., 'the actor achieved a triple crown of Oscar, Tony, and Emmy awards'), though such usage is informal.
It requires peak performance across three distinct, highly competitive events, often held under different conditions and with varying competition. In statistics-based crowns (like baseball), it requires leading an entire league in multiple categories over a long season—a confluence of skill and consistency that is exceedingly rare.