All good things come in threes: origin and meaning

“All good things come in threes”: Examples

  • I have already failed the task twice. But I’m not giving up yet. Because all good things come in threes.
  • Now I’ve been to Barcelona twice. The city is just fantastic and I will definitely be going there a third time. All good things come in threes.
  • I have a total of three different training plans for the gym, which I use at regular intervals. All good things come in threes.

“All good things come in threes”: meaning

The figure of speech “All good things come in threes” stresses that the number three is from a certain thing to be highlighted particularly positively is. So you can justify making a third attempt to achieve or get something. Or that you own three pieces.

“All good things come in threes”: Origin

The phrase “all good things come in threes” probably dates from the Middle Ages. There was a council meeting there exactly three times a year and as a defendant you had three options to present yourself to the judges.

However, if the defendant did not appear at the third meeting, the judge sentenced you. It was said in Old Germanic “All good things come in threes”, because “Thing” meant a court hearing.

Furthermore, the plays Number three in symbolism as well as in many customs and religions a special role. For example, in the Bible there are the three wise men and the trinity (father, son, holy spirit).

Similar or related phrases:

  • Make three crosses (be happy, be relieved)
  • Everything that is not on the trees at three (nothing is spared that is within reach)
  • Three is one too many (opposite phrase)

Are you interested in idioms and sayings? “First come, first served” explains that in the past even princes had to stand at the mill if they came too late. We also explain tabula rasa and from the rain to the eaves. You will find the meaning and origin of many common phrases here .

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