If you’re single but tagging along on someone else’s date, you might be described as a “fifth wheel,” a term that goes back to Thomas Jefferson’s day. Not until much later, after the bicycle had been invented, the term “third wheel” started becoming more common. This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Fifth Wheel vs. Third Wheel”
Hello, you have A Way with Words.
Hi, my name is Victoria. I’m calling from San Diego.
Hi, Victoria. How are you doing?
Hi.
I’m well. I’m well. This is such a treat to speak with both of you. So thank you so much.
Oh, it’s our pleasure. Thank you for calling.
What’s up?
I got you.
What’s on your mind?
So the question, it became a debate one night at a bar in downtown San Diego amongst my friends. Apparently we have nothing better to talk about than the proper use of idiomatic expressions.
We don’t either.
The debate is between the use of third wheel versus fifth wheel, as in I don’t want to be the third wheel or I don’t want to be the fifth wheel. The majority of the group believes that it’s third wheel. And I told them that it was time to call the experts and that victory would be mine because I’m convinced that the proper expression is fifth wheel.
Fifth wheel.
So most people said third wheel.
You say fifth wheel.
Yeah.
Why do you say that?
For like an extra person, something that’s superfluous, right?
Yeah, and I think people think of it as like a boyfriend and a girlfriend hanging out, and if you are hanging out with that couple, then you are the third person, i.e. the third wheel. I think that’s where people are getting the expression.
Yeah, I think that’s a fair assessment.
Well, Victoria, I think every one of your friends needs to take you out to dinner and for another drink because fifth wheel is much more common historically. It goes all the way back at least to Thomas Jefferson. He used it that way. You see it again and again in the historical record as fifth wheel to a wagon or fifth wheel to a carriage, something like that. Third wheel has become more common in recent years. And you can kind of understand why if you’re talking about the odd man out, the third person.
Yeah, you said it very well. When couples come in too and there’s a third person, you say third wheel. But third wheel only comes about after the advent of the bicycle. Because for a long part of human history, when we had wheeled things, most of them were four-wheeled. I mean, you had two-wheeled carts and stuff, but the four-wheeled wagons, that’s kind of a canonical wheeled device.
Well, you’ve just made my day, Martha Grant. Congratulations. But I would like to just add here, it’s fine to say third wheel, but it’s not the original, and it’s not necessarily more correct. Neither one of us is more correct, but fifth wheel is the original form. For a long time, it was the most common one. Only in the modern age has third wheel become more common.
Yeah, I mean, it makes sense, too, if you’re talking about a couple.
Yeah.
You know, a third wheel on a date. It makes sense.
Yeah, but unless you’re involved in polyamorous relationships, it’s probably going to be a third wheel when we’re talking about couples.
Right.
Right?
Yeah, okay.
That makes a lot of sense.
Well, I’m thrilled to have clarity on it. I’m thrilled to go back to my friends to tell them that victory is mine and that I’m right. Although noted, it’s accepted in terms of contemporary use that the original phrase was supposed to be so squeal.
Yes. Well, congratulations. This is outstanding.
Thank you so much. I really appreciate it.
Take care, Victoria.
Thank you so much.
Bye-bye.
Thanks. Bye-bye.
877-929-9673.
Twitter, W-A-Y-W-O-R-D.
Send us an email to words@waywordradio.org.
