bad things come in threes en · X
Etymology
Rooted in human predispositions for such cognitive biases as pareidolia and superstition.
Meanings
- If one unfortunate event has already occurred, a second and third are likely to occur; if two, a third should be expected.
Antonyms
Coordinates
misfortunes never come singly · it never rains but it pours
Translations (7)
cmn 禍不單行 /祸不单行 (several unfortunate events usually occur together) · ar لا تأتى المصائب فرادى (several unfortunate events usually occur together) · pt não há duas sem três. (several unfortunate events usually occur together) · fr jamais deux sans trois (several unfortunate events usually occur together) · it non c'è due senza tre (several unfortunate events usually occur together) · pl nieszczęścia chodzą parami (several unfortunate events usually occur together) · fi ei kahta ilman kolmatta (several unfortunate events usually occur together)