Hat Trick and the Triple Crown

Pronunciation:  hæt trik • Hear it!

Part of Speech: Noun phrase

Meaning: 1. Three goals scored by one player in a soccer or hockey match. 2. The retiring of three batsmen with three consecutive balls by a bowler in cricket. 3.More generally, a string of any kind of three consecutive accomplishments. hat trick • [Podcast] Pronunciation: hæt trik • Hear it! Part of Speech: Noun phrase Meaning: 1. Three goals scored by one player in a soccer or hockey match. 2. The retiring of three batsmen with three consecutive balls by a bowler in cricket. 3.More generally, a string of any kind of three consecutive accomplishments.



Notes: World Cup Soccer -- Today the US soccer team plays Portugal in the World Cup playoffs, so we offer a relevant Good Word. We chose hat trick since scoring once is in itself an accomplishment, but scoring three times is very nearly a feat of magic. As we once heard on the BBC: "Alan Shearer's hat trick shattered Germany's resolve! England won the match, 3 to 2!"



In Play: The popularity of hockey in the US and Soccer elsewhere has led to a broader, more general use of this word: "Did you hear? Kenny Pullum scored a hat trick: he closed 3 major sales this week."


Word History: Today's Good Phrase dates back to the game of cricket as played during the Victorian era (1837-1901). A bowler who retired three batsmen in a row was rewarded with a new hat or an equivalent gift for his accomplishment.


Once the term was associated with a triple accomplishment, it quickly passed on to other sports: hockey, soccer, but surprisingly not baseball where Grand Slam still reigns. In horse-racing, the big 3 races of the year, well the most highly followed, is called the  Triple Crown.  This series of races highlight 3 year old colts, running  first in 2-turn Kentucky Derby, graduating to the short sprint of the Pimlico Stakes and ending with the long New York Belmont mile; it  is often referred to as a hat trick and a winner is over 20 years due, save Silver Charm's gallant almost win.