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• hat trick
  hat trick

  noun

  the knocking off by one bowler of three wickets with three successive pitches.
• hat-trick
  hat-trick

  noun

  cricket the achievement of a bowler in taking three wickets with three successive balls

hat trick

American  

[hat trik] / ˈhæt ˌtrɪk /

noun

1. Cricket. the knocking off by one bowler of three wickets with three successive pitches.

2. Ice Hockey, Soccer. three goals scored by one player in one game.

   He was the only athlete in our school’s history to achieve a hat trick in both hockey and soccer.

3. Baseball. three like feats executed by one player in one game, especially three home runs.

   In last night’s game, Marley performed a most unusual hat trick, with his three unassisted double plays.

4. a series of three related successes or accomplishments, especially when achieved one after the other and in close proximity.

   Once again, Kay won the blue ribbons for dill pickles, bread-and-butter pickles, and pickled beets—her annual pickle hat trick!

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hat-trick British  

noun

1. cricket the achievement of a bowler in taking three wickets with three successive balls

2. any achievement of three points, victories, awards, etc within a given period, esp three goals scored by the same player in a soccer match

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hat trick Cultural  

1. 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.”

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hat trick Idioms  

1. 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.

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Discover More

The phrase originally referred to a hat traditionally given to a cricket player who scored three wickets, or goals.

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.”

Etymology

Origin of hat trick

First recorded in 1865–70; so called because formerly such a cricket bowler was rewarded with a hat

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hat trick hat-trick

He registered a second-half hat trick in the 5-3 Saudi Pro League victory over Al Kholood, taking him to 985 career goals.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 5, 2026

Each of them could have as many as three games left—and each has the ability to explode for a hat trick at any moment.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026

Argentina’s No. 10 stayed on the pitch long enough to score two more goals and finish the 3-0 victory with a hat trick.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026

Its best player, captain Kylian Mbappe, holds the tournament record with four goals in World Cup finals, including a hat trick in Qatar four years ago.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 14, 2026

“Trip, what’s this I hear about a hat trick in yesterday’s game?”

From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng

The Portugal playmaker, who had just been crowned PFA Player of the Year for 2025-26, went on to complete a hat-trick in a 5-2 win.

From BBC ● Nov. 9, 2026

But Walsh quickly responded after both Samoan scores, keeping them at arm's length while scoring his first international hat-trick.

From BBC ● Nov. 8, 2026

In a repeat of the previous World Cup final, a worked-up Samoa side lost their way with errors and ill-discipline, allowing Australia to run in eight tries, including a Reece Walsh hat-trick.

From BBC ● Nov. 8, 2026

At the break, with Ewan Ashman having completed his hat-trick and Murrayfield rocking, the great Richie McCaw stood away to the side, just below the media gantry.

From BBC ● Nov. 7, 2026

The "double hat-trick" was six consecutive wickets, the last six, all clean bowled.

From The Wonder by J. D. (John Davys) Beresford

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