aller guten Dinge sind drei

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German

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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Literally, of all good things there are three, suggestive inter alia of the Trinity.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈalɐ ˈɡuːtən ˈdɪŋə zɪnt dʁaɪ̯/
  • Audio:(file)

Proverb

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aller guten Dinge sind drei

  1. third time's a charm; but more general; used as a lighthearted justification for doing something a third time, for including a third person, for taking a third drink, etc.
    Synonym: dreimal ist Bremer Recht
    • 1767, Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, Minna von Barnhelm[1], 1. Akt, 2. Szene:
      In meinem Leben hat mir das noch niemand gesagt. Noch eins, Herr Just; aller guten Dinge sind drei!
      No one has ever told me this in my life. One more thing, Mr. Just; all good things come in threes!

Further reading

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