third time lucky

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "third time lucky" is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used to express the sentiment that a third attempt at something is more likely to be successful than previous attempts. For example, "I've failed my driving test twice already, but hopefully I'll be third time lucky!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

General Conversation

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Third time lucky, perhaps?

The New York Times - Arts

OK, third time lucky.

The Guardian - Business

Third time lucky this year.

The Guardian

Is it to be third time lucky?

The Guardian - Sport

Perhaps they are hoping for third time lucky.

The Guardian

If not third time lucky, then perhaps fourth.

The Guardian - Sport

But it's not a case of third time lucky.

The Guardian - Sport

For Iraq, as well as for its American proconsul, this has to be third time lucky.

The Economist

Fingers crossed, it'll be third time lucky for the 'flying saucer'.

Independent

We had protests in 1997, 2009 – hopefully this is third time lucky".

The Guardian

For Reid, winning the poetry award is third time lucky – he has been nominated twice before.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

This idiom is best suited for informal settings, where expressing a sense of hope or anticipation is appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "third time lucky" in situations where success is guaranteed or when the outcome depends solely on skill or effort, rather than chance or external factors. It's an idiom that implies a degree of uncertainty and hope.

Linguistic Context

The idiom "third time lucky" functions as an interjection or expression of hope. It is used to convey optimism that a third attempt at something will be successful, especially after two previous failures. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Sport

30%

General Conversation

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The idiom "third time lucky" is a widely recognized and accepted expression used to convey optimism that a third attempt at something will be successful. As Ludwig AI confirms, its grammatical structure is correct and suitable for various contexts, particularly news, sports, and general conversation. While versatile, it is best reserved for situations where success is not guaranteed, as its effectiveness lies in expressing hope amidst uncertainty. When a more formal expression is needed, alternative phrases like "I hope this third attempt will be successful" can be employed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

third time's a charm

Very similar in meaning, emphasizing the supposed magic of the third attempt.

succeed at the third attempt

Simply states success at the third try, without any notion of luck.

third attempt successful

Focuses on the success of the third try, removing the luck element.

the charm works on the third try

Replaces "lucky" with "charm" indicating that something works finally.

third chance for success

Highlights the opportunity aspect of the idiom.

achieve success on the third try

A more formal way to describe reaching a goal on the third attempt.

hope it works out this time

Expresses a general hope for success, without specifying the number of attempts.

prevail on the third occasion

Uses more sophisticated language to convey success after two prior failures.

finally have success

Emphasizes the eventual achievement after a period of struggle.

good things come in threes

A general idiom about good things happening in sets of three. More positive and less focused on prior failures.

FAQs

How to use "third time lucky" in a sentence?

You can use "third time lucky" to express hope that a third attempt at something will be successful, for example: "I've applied for this job twice already, but "hopefully" it's "third time lucky"".

What's a similar phrase to "third time lucky"?

A similar phrase is "third time's a charm", which also implies that the third attempt will be successful.

When is it appropriate to use "third time lucky"?

It's appropriate to use "third time lucky" in informal contexts when you're hoping for a better outcome after two unsuccessful attempts. It conveys optimism and a sense of anticipation.

What can I say instead of "third time lucky" in a formal setting?

In a more formal setting, you could say "I hope this third attempt will be successful" or "I am optimistic about the outcome of this third endeavor".