hat trick

Noun

hat trick (plural hat tricks)

1. (literal) Any magic trick performed with a hat, especially one involving pulling an object (traditionally a rabbit) out of an apparently empty hat.
2. (broadly) Three achievements in a single game, competition, season, etc., such as three consecutive wins.
   • Ever heard of a Gordie Howe hat trick? It comprises a goal, an assist, and a fighting major penalty.
3. (broadly, ironic, specifically) The act of striking out three times in a game.
   • Jones got a hat trick yesterday. Let’s see if he can do better today.
4. (broadly, specifically) Three goals scored by one player in a game.
   • In ice hockey, it’s customary for fans to throw their hats on to the rink after a player scores a hat trick.
5. (broadly, specifically) Three tries scored by one player in a game.
6. (broadly, generally) Three achievements or incidents that occur together, usually within a certain period of time.
   • The car salesman came home with front-row seats to the weekend game after achieving a hat trick by selling three cars that day.
   • And with the debut of his new series Hyperion Bay in 1998, [Joseph] Dougherty accomplished the rare "hat trick" in television: the pilot was written, executive-produced, and codirected by Dougherty.2002, Douglas Heil, “From Office Temp to ‘Hat Trick’ Showrunner: Interview with Joseph Dougherty”, in Prime Time Authorship: Works about and by Three TV Dramatists (The Television Series), Syracuse...
7. (UK, historical, rare) A means of securing a seat in the House of Commons by a Member of Parliament placing their hat upon it during an absence.