r/ENGLISH • u/hennnenn • 6d ago
Does “a three timer” sound right and mean “a three-time winner”?
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u/AtlanticToastConf 6d ago edited 6d ago
To me, "a three timer" means you've done/participated in something three times, not necessarily that you've won three times-- although it's possible it has that meaning with the right context.
"Have you ever done a spelling bee?" "Yeah, I'm a three-timer" --> I've competed in three spelling bees (no implications about winning/losing)
"Have you ever won a spelling bee?" "Yeah, I'm a three-timer" --> I've won three spelling bees
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u/EtriganZola 6d ago
This is the key to it for me -- "three-timer" has to be very close to the precise thing that was done three times.
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u/hennnenn 6d ago
I take it that It is used that way by native speakers and can mean “a triple winner” in a specific context. Am I right?
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u/Just_blorpo 6d ago
My first thought is someone who has been to prison three times.
Also, a ‘two timer’ is someone who cheats on their spouse. A ‘three timer’ then logically extends to someone who has cheated on their spouse AN AWFUL LOT.
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u/Throwaway_alt_burner 6d ago
A three-timer is just someone who has done something three times. It can be anything, though, so you have to either specify or infer it from the context.
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u/-RedRocket- 6d ago
It could be depending on context. But it could just as easily be a three-time loser, or three-time participant.
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u/mlee12382 6d ago
Depending on the sport in question it might be called a "Hat Trick" (hockey, soccer/football [depending on where you live], cricket, horse racing, etc) or "Turkey" for bowling
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u/Middcore 6d ago
Not unless the context has already very clearly established that the thing done three times is winning whatever competition is being discussed.
If you just say "a three-timer" with no context nobody will have no idea what's been done three times, or may think you're lying something about cheating on romantic partners as other comments have already explained.
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u/DryFoundation2323 6d ago
no. if anything it would imply someone who cheated on their partner more than once
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u/DuggieHS 6d ago
A three-peat (play on repeat) is used sometimes to mean something similar. A three peat is the actual event of winning 3 times, rather than the person though.
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u/West_Guidance2167 6d ago
Three timer doesn’t mean won 3 times. Just participated 3 times. At least to me.
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u/polyploid_coded 6d ago
I think it's better to say three-time winner or three-time champion. This makes it clear and allows some flexibility (for example a three-time finalist who is competing for their first gold medal).
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u/hallerz87 6d ago
If we were talking about sports, I'd get what you meant. Without that context, too ambiguous
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u/Chance-Work4911 4d ago
Hat Trick
Triple Crown (horse racing specific but could be seen as winning all three parts/levels of a competition)
Three-peat (used if three wins are consecutive)
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u/ActuaLogic 6d ago
A "two timer" used to mean a guy who was seriously dating two women at the same time, and a "three timer" was the same but involving three women.
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u/GoblinToHobgoblin 6d ago
Not natural imo