English Idiom – Third time lucky.
Something you say when you hope (or find) that your third attempt will succeed, after two failures.
It’s a sunny day on the pier. Dad has paid for three balls at the coconut shy. The first one misses. So does the second. The family are rolling their eyes, the seagulls are stealing chips, and Mum is ready to go home. Dad takes a deep breath, throws the last ball, and the coconut finally wobbles off its stand. “Third time lucky!” The stallholder can’t believe it.
Brits say third time lucky in two ways: before the third try, to stay positive (“Never mind, third time lucky!”), and after it, to celebrate (“Got it! Third time lucky.”).
Third Time Lucky vs Third Time’s a Charm
These two mean exactly the same thing. Third time lucky is the British version. Third time’s a charm is the American version. Australians and New Zealanders usually say “third time lucky” too.
Everyone understands both, so use the one that matches the English you’re learning. You might also hear the old saying “third time pays for all”, but it sounds very old-fashioned now.
How to Use It
- To encourage someone after two failures: “Failed your driving test twice? Third time lucky, mate.”
- To celebrate success on the third go: “I finally passed. Third time lucky!”
- About yourself, with a little hope: “I’m applying again. Hopefully it’ll be third time lucky.”
- Jokingly, about anything that keeps going wrong: “The cake sank again. Third time lucky?”
It’s friendly and informal, so it works with friends, family and colleagues. Note there’s no “the”: we say third time lucky, not “the third time lucky”.
Example:
- “The printer jammed twice, but third time lucky, it finally worked.”
- “She didn’t get the job in March or June, so she’s hoping it’s third time lucky.”
- “Our team has lost two finals in a row. Third time lucky this year?”
- “I’ve burnt the toast twice. Third time lucky…”
More idioms about luck and trying again: a damp squib (when it doesn’t work out) and break the ice. Or browse all our collections.
Learn More
Look it upThird time lucky – Cambridge DictionaryCambridge DictionaryWhat is an idiom?
An idiom is a word or phrase that is not taken literally. An idiom is an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its individual words, but has a separate meaning of its own.
Frequently Asked Questions
It means that after failing twice, you hope (or find) that the third attempt will be successful.
Both mean the same. “Third time lucky” is British English, and “third time’s a charm” is American English.
No. The idiom has no article: just say “third time lucky”.
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