Have you ever heard of someone accomplishing a hat trick? You might think it just means achieving something, but there is so much more to this noun than just that. You need three consecutive accomplishments or straight goals to perform a “hat trick!” In this article, we’ll go through its origin, correct usage, and even the right spelling variation!
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What Is a Hat Trick?
If you have accomplished three wins or consecutive goals in a row, you have just performed a hat trick! You will hear this a lot in sports, mainly professional hockey or soccer, but it doesn’t need to be sports-related. Modern hat tricks can be any three related and consecutive achievements. For instance, a student who earns straight A grades in three consecutive semesters achieves a hat trick in academic excellence.
Examples of “hat trick” in a sentence:
- For the third time in a row, author Jane Dough has made number one on the NYT’s best-seller list, performing an impressive hat trick.
- Our home team won the game with an impressive hat trick!
- After two games with no strikes, we’re itching for a hat trick this Wednesday night.
- Mary scored again at half-time to complete the hat trick and give her team a great lead.
- Zane’s pig, cow, and goat all won best in show, making an odd but amazing hat trick.
Where Does It Come From?
Believe it or not, there once was a time when performing a hat trick would have gotten you an actual hat! The “hat trick” got its start in the 1860s in cricket. If you take three wickets with three consecutive balls in a row, you have performed a trick that rewards you with a new hat. This is how the “threes” rule came to be in the modern hat trick meaning.
When and How to Use Hat Trick?
There are two rules that you should follow. First, the three victories need to be consecutive in a single game —three victories in a season or a lifetime doesn’t count! The second rule is that it needs to be something competitive, like ice hockey or baseball. Grammatically speaking, you would use “hat trick” as a noun.
What’s the Correct Spelling?
When it comes to spelling, you should only use “hat trick,” especially if you are using American English. In the United Kingdom and other countries that follow British English, “hat-trick” is generally more accepted. But how about “hattrick?”This spelling variation is wrong and shouldn’t be used regardless if you are using American or British English.
Final Thoughts
If you started this article thinking a hat trick was just any normal feat, you now know just how impressive it is! Remember, the hat trick meaning is about winning three times in a row!
