A hat trick is a term used to describe the achievement of a generally positive feat three times in a match, or another achievement based on the number three. The term originated in cricket in 1858 when an English cricketer named H.H. Stephenson took three wickets in three consecutive deliveries during a game between an all-England team and Hallam. A collection was held afterwards, with money being placed into a hat before being presented to Stephenson. Since then, the term has been used in various sports, including football, hockey, rugby, and others. Here are some examples of how the term is used in different sports:

• Cricket: A hat-trick occurs in cricket when an individual bowler takes three wickets with consecutive deliveries in the same match.

• Football: In football, a hat-trick is when a player scores three goals in a single game. When a player has scored two goals in a game, they are often described as being "on a hat-trick" due to the fact that another goal will complete a hat-trick.

• Hockey: In field hockey and ice hockey, a hat trick occurs when a player scores three goals in a single game. In ice hockey, the tradition of fans throwing hats onto the ice from the stands to celebrate a hat trick is said to have begun around the 1950s.

• Rugby: In both codes of rugby football (rugby union and rugby league), a hat-trick is when a player scores three or more tries in a game. In rugby union, a related concept is that of a "full house" (scoring a try, conversion, penalty goal, and drop goal) in a single game.

Overall, a hat trick is a significant achievement in many sports, and it is often celebrated by fans and players alike.