third time's a charm

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "third time's a charm" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It means that after failing or being unsuccessful twice, the third attempt will be successful. Example: After two failed interviews, she finally got the job on her third try. Third time's a charm, as they say.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

CT: Yeah, it's the third album, and the third time's a charm, hopefully.

Huffington Post

RYE Rye Free Reading Room "Third Time's a Charm," watercolor paintings by Patti Gaulin.

The New York Times

Third time's a charm for artist Fiona Lowry, who has won Australia's top portrait prize, the Archibald.

The Guardian

And what was it about Steve Forbes's presidential campaigns that makes him think the third time's a charm?

The New York Times

Banking on the adage "third time's a charm," the Jets enter the 2011 season with essentially the same components they've had the past two years.

The New York Times

With Ashford at the helm, maybe this time around Law will get nominated for an Olivier Award and actually win – third time's a charm".

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

7 The hundred-and-eighty-third time's a charm.

The New Yorker

"We will definitely reference Texas A&M, the fourth time's a charm," Notre Dame Coach Muffet McGraw said on a conference call.

The New York Times - Sports

Try not to spit the whole thing out when some excess nicotine goo coats your tongue and lips in a stinging gloss. 5. Wipe Your Mouth and Try Again: O.K., second time's a charm, right?

The New Yorker

Fifth time's a charm they say (right?).

TechCrunch

Perhaps, the fourth time's a charm.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "third time's a charm", ensure that there have indeed been two prior attempts. The phrase loses its impact if this condition is not met.

Common error

Avoid using "third time's a charm" in situations where the previous attempts had significantly different circumstances. The idiom implies that the circumstances are similar but the outcome will be different due to luck or perseverance, not due to a change in conditions.

Linguistic Context

The idiom "third time's a charm" functions as an exclamatory statement expressing optimism about a third attempt, suggesting it will be successful after two failures. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is considered grammatically correct. The phrase serves to offer encouragement or hope.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

0.5%

Reference

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The idiom "third time's a charm" is a common expression used to convey optimism that a third attempt at something will be successful, especially after two previous failures. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. Predominantly found in News & Media contexts, it's used to encourage persistence with an informal tone. While it can appear in more formal settings, consider your audience and the appropriateness of an idiomatic expression. The phrase implies that circumstances are similar across attempts, and as examples in Ludwig demonstrate, offers hope for a different outcome. Common alternatives include "persistence pays off" and "the third attempt is the key".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

The charm works after three

Rephrases the original idiom with a slight variation.

The third attempt is the key

Directly references the importance of the third try.

Persistence pays off

Focuses on the value of continued effort.

Success follows persistence

Emphasizes the relationship between persistence and success.

Keep trying, you'll get there

Emphasizes perseverance and reaching a goal.

Eventually you'll succeed

Highlights the certainty of future achievement.

Keep at it, it'll happen

Offers encouragement to continue despite challenges.

After repeated attempts, success

Highlights repeated attempts to lead to the success

Triumph eventually comes

Focuses on the arrival of success over time.

Victory after perseverance

Highlights triumph after enduring hardship.

FAQs

How can I use "third time's a charm" in a sentence?

You can use "third time's a charm" to express hope that a third attempt at something will be successful. For example, "I failed the test twice, but "third time's a charm", I hope!"

What does "third time's a charm" mean?

"Third time's a charm" means that after two unsuccessful attempts, the third try will likely be successful. It's an expression of hope and optimism.

Is it always appropriate to use the phrase "third time's a charm"?

While widely understood, "third time's a charm" is informal. Use it in casual conversations or lighthearted contexts. In more formal situations, opt for phrases like "I hope the third attempt will be successful".

What is a similar phrase to "third time's a charm"?

A similar phrase is "the third attempt is the key", which also suggests that the third try will be the one that works.