hat trick

noun

1

: the scoring of three goals in one game (as of hockey or soccer) by a single player

2

: the dismissing (see dismiss sense 4) of three batsmen with three consecutive balls by a bowler in cricket

3

: a series of three victories, successes, or related accomplishments

scored a hat trick when her three best steers corralled top honors

—People

Did you know?

It may surprise some people to learn that the term "hat trick" as it relates to sports actually originated in British cricket. A bowler who retired three batsmen with three consecutive balls was entitled to a new hat at the expense of the club to commemorate this feat. Eventually, the phrase was applied to a single player scoring three goals in any goal sport and later to three victories or successes in sports as different as horse racing and golf. The phrase finally broadened to include a string of three important successes or achievements in any field.

Examples of hat trick in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the second half, Lenarz fought off a defender and threw in a spin move on his way to completing the hat trick. —Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2025

Rantanen exacted revenge against his former team months later, eliminating the Avalanche from the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs with a hat trick in Game 7 of their first-round series. —Marco Cummings, Denver Post, 22 Aug. 2025

Or Carli Lloyd’s hat trick at the 2015 World Cup. —Richard Deitsch, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025

Sweden defeated Finland 6-5 in the semifinal, meanwhile, in large part thanks to a hat trick scored by Marcus Nordmark. —Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

probably from the former practice of rewarding the feat with the gift of a hat

First Known Use

1869, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for hat trick

• broomstick
• dipstick
• homesick
• joystick
• lipstick
• nonstick
• pickwick
• picnic
• redbrick
• seasick
• sidekick
• slapstick

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