hat trick

noun

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

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

: 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 The yard has another hat trick on the horizon, too. —

Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 8 Apr. 2024 The rout ended with the first position player to pitch for the Giants this season, Fitzgerald’s reward for his error in the field and hat trick at the plate. —

Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 31 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for hat trick

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hat trick.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.