noun

hat-trick

HAT-trik

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Hat-trick (noun) means Three goals scored by the same player in a single match, especially in football or hockey. Example: “She scored a hat-trick inside twenty minutes.”

noun

Three goals scored by the same player in a single match, especially in football or hockey.

"She scored a hat-trick inside twenty minutes."

"It was the striker's first hat-trick for the club."

Any set of three successes achieved in a row by the same person or team.

"The film completed a hat-trick of awards on the night."

"Three by-election wins in a month gave the party a hat-trick."

In cricket, the taking of three wickets by a bowler with three consecutive deliveries.

"He took a hat-trick in the final over of the innings."

How to use hat-trick

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThree goals, wins or successes in a row by the same person.

When to use it

Written hat-trick in British English and often hat trick in American English. In football a perfect hat-trick means one with the left foot, the right foot and the head.

Memory tip

Two goals is a brace, three is a hat-trick; there is no established single word for four.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

hat-trick vs. treble hat-trick vs. brace

Common pairings

score a hat-trick complete a hat-trick perfect hat-trick hat-trick of wins

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “hat-trick” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She scored a _____ inside twenty minutes.

Etymology

From nineteenth-century cricket, where a bowler who dismissed three batsmen with successive balls was traditionally presented with a hat.

Origin: English

Synonyms

View more →

treble three-goal haul triple threepeat

Related words

three triple treble soprano triad threepeat twofold triplex

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a hat-trick and a treble?

In scoring they are interchangeable for three goals. In club football, though, the Treble specifically means a team winning three major trophies in one season, so a hat-trick belongs to a player and a treble usually to a side.

Do the three goals have to be consecutive?

In modern football, no — any three goals by the same player in one match count, even with opposition goals in between. In cricket the definition is strict: the three wickets must come from three consecutive deliveries by that bowler.

What is the meaning of hat-trick?

"hat-trick" (noun) means three goals scored by the same player in a single match, especially in football or hockey.

What is another word for hat-trick?

Other words for "hat-trick" include treble, three-goal haul, triple, threepeat.

People also searched

three triple treble soprano triad threepeat twofold triplex