hat trick
noun
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
The Athletic Nhl Staff, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
That included a hat trick against Seattle on Dec. 22.
—Matt Schubert, Denver Post, 8 Aug. 2025
Last time any team did that hat trick was the Islanders winning four straight in 1980-83.
—Miami Herald, 6 Aug. 2025
The 11-minute hat trick for Muriel is the fastest in Orlando City history.
—Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hat trick
Cite this Entry
“Hat trick.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hat%20trick. Accessed 27 Aug. 2025.
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