hat trick
noun
Cricket.
the knocking off by one bowler of three wickets with three successive pitches: so called because formerly such a bowler was rewarded with a hat.
Ice Hockey, Soccer.
three goals or points scored by one player in one game.
Baseball.
a series of a base hit, a two-base hit, a three-base hit, and a home run achieved in any order by one player in one game.
a clever or adroitly deceptive maneuver.
Origin of hat trick
1875–80; 1955–60
for def 2
Words nearby hat trick
hat dance,
hat in hand,
hat in the ring,
hat stand,
hat tree,
hat trick,
hat-trick,
hatable,
hatasu,
hatband,
hatbox
British Dictionary definitions for hat-trick
hat-trick
noun
cricket
the achievement of a bowler in taking three wickets with three successive balls
any achievement of three points, victories, awards, etc within a given period, esp three goals scored by the same player in a soccer match
Cultural definitions for hat-trick
hat trick
In some sports, such as ice hockey, three goals by one player in a single game: “Lemieux scores for the third time tonight; he finally has the hat trick he's been looking for all season.”
notes for hat trick
By extension, a hat trick is an outstanding performance by an individual, or a particularly clever or adroit maneuver: “She pulled off a hat trick with her presentation to the committee.”
notes for hat trick
The
phrase originally referred to a hat traditionally given to a cricket player who scored three wickets, or goals.
Idioms and Phrases with hat-trick
hat trick
An extremely clever or adroit maneuver, as in It looked as though the party was going to achieve a hat trick in this election. The term originated in cricket, where it refers to three wickets taken by a bowler in three consecutive balls, traditionally rewarded with the presentation of a hat. It later was transferred to ice hockey, soccer, and baseball, where it denotes three consecutive successes (goals, hits), and then to more general use.