hat trick
noun
1
: the scoring of three goals in one game (as of hockey or soccer) by a single player
2
: the dismissing (see dismiss sense 4) of three batsmen with three consecutive balls by a bowler in cricket
3
: a series of three victories, successes, or related accomplishments
scored a hat trick when her three best steers corralled top honors 
People
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.
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Not to be outdone, after already forcing one turnover, the defense sealed a scoring hat trick for the Blazers when Mac McWilliams jumped a short route and returned his first interception of the year for a 78-yard touchdown. Evan Dudley, al, 1 Sep. 2022 And his team quickly rose to victory, with the duke scoring a hat trick in their first game of the day and another goal in the second. Omid Scobie, Harper's BAZAAR, 26 Aug. 2022 In Ellis’ defense, Peele has achieved somewhat of a rare hat trick with his first three films, which have all received widespread critical acclaim. Christi Carras, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2022 What was supposed to be a humiliating defeat for the Republicans somehow turned into a GOP hat trick: victory in the presidential election and retention of both House and Senate. Barton Swaim, WSJ, 24 June 2022 Sophomore Rowan Bradshaw-Mack had six goals, including the first three of the game and five in the first half, senior Renzo Garone had a hat trick to open the second half for Weston and sophomore Nick Possick added three goals for the Trojans. Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 12 June 2022 Hurst earned lasting fame by scoring the first hat trick in a World Cup final; Greaves famously sat impassively on the bench as England celebrated their 4-2 win over West Germany at the final whistle. New York Times, 23 Sep. 2021 The Spanish were taken by Ivory Coast to extra time before winning, 5-2 with Rafa Mir scoring a hat trick and the go-ahead goal from a penalty by Oyarzabal, who also netted the winning spotkick in a shootout in the Euro 2020 quarterfinals. BostonGlobe.com, 31 July 2021 That gave the fans life again and trimmed the Kings’ deficit to 5-2, but Nugent-Hopkins scored twice and Kane completed his hat trick in the final six minutes of the period. Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2022 See More
Evan Dudley, al, 1 Sep. 2022 And his team quickly rose to victory, with the duke scoring a hat trick in their first game of the day and another goal in the second. Omid Scobie, Harper's BAZAAR, 26 Aug. 2022 In Ellis’ defense, Peele has achieved somewhat of a rare hat trick with his first three films, which have all received widespread critical acclaim. Christi Carras, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2022 What was supposed to be a humiliating defeat for the Republicans somehow turned into a GOP hat trick: victory in the presidential election and retention of both House and Senate. Barton Swaim, WSJ, 24 June 2022 Sophomore Rowan Bradshaw-Mack had six goals, including the first three of the game and five in the first half, senior Renzo Garone had a hat trick to open the second half for Weston and sophomore Nick Possick added three goals for the Trojans. Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 12 June 2022 Hurst earned lasting fame by scoring the first hat trick in a World Cup final; Greaves famously sat impassively on the bench as England celebrated their 4-2 win over West Germany at the final whistle. New York Times, 23 Sep. 2021 The Spanish were taken by Ivory Coast to extra time before winning, 5-2 with Rafa Mir scoring a hat trick and the go-ahead goal from a penalty by Oyarzabal, who also netted the winning spotkick in a shootout in the Euro 2020 quarterfinals. BostonGlobe.com, 31 July 2021 That gave the fans life again and trimmed the Kings’ deficit to 5-2, but Nugent-Hopkins scored twice and Kane completed his hat trick in the final six minutes of the period. Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
probably from the former practice of rewarding the feat with the gift of a hat
First Known Use
1869, in the meaning defined at sense 2