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General

three-way

What does three-way mean?

A plate of Cincinnati chili over spaghetti topped with shredded cheese; add beans for a four-way, onions too for a five-way.

"I'll take a three-way and a couple cheese coneys."

Origin

Cincinnati chili-parlor ordering system.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Cincinnati three-way?
It's Cincinnati chili served over spaghetti and topped with a mound of shredded cheese. The 'three ways' are the spaghetti, chili, and cheese.
What's the difference between a three-way, four-way, and five-way?
A four-way adds beans (or onions), and a five-way adds both beans and onions on top of the three-way base.
Where does the term come from?
It's the standard ordering shorthand at Cincinnati chili parlors like Skyline and Gold Star.
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Slang definitions: FreeDict original editorial.