Writing Tips has been archived and won’t be updated before it is permanently deleted.
For the most up-to-date content, please consult Writing Tips Plus, which combines content from Writing Tips and The Canadian Style. And don’t forget to update your bookmarks!
The expression hat trick is often used in hockey and other sports. It refers to the achievement of scoring three goals in a row (or three goals in one game) or of winning three games in a row.
The expression hat trick began in the 1800s when a cricket bowler took three wickets in a row—an unusual feat—and was given a new hat by his teammates.
In other uses, anyone who accomplishes three significant actions in a row can be said to have made or scored a hat trick. For instance, if a business has three successful years in a row, or a filmmaker wins three major awards, that can be referred to as a hat trick.
© Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2024
TERMIUM Plus®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
Writing tools – Writing Tips
A product of the Translation Bureau