Phrase guide

bad things come in threes

proverb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

proverb

Meaning 1

If one unfortunate event has already occurred, a second and third are likely to occur; if two, a third should be expected.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: good things come in threes

History

Etymology

Rooted in human predispositions for such cognitive biases as pareidolia and superstition.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: لا تأتى المصائب فرادى — several unfortunate events usually occur together
  • Chinese Mandarin: 禍不單行 /祸不单行 (huòbùdānxíng) — several unfortunate events usually occur together
  • Finnish: ei kahta ilman kolmatta — several unfortunate events usually occur together
  • French: jamais deux sans trois — several unfortunate events usually occur together
  • Italian: non c'è due senza tre — several unfortunate events usually occur together
  • Polish: nieszczęścia chodzą parami — several unfortunate events usually occur together
  • Portuguese: não há duas sem três. — several unfortunate events usually occur together