third wheel

[ thurd weel, hweel ]

noun

1. a person or thing that does not belong or is not wanted or needed:

   When my wife’s sister is here the two of them talk up a storm, and I feel like a third wheel.

Word History and Origins

Origin of third wheel¹

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

“Too scared to tell your best friend? Who am I kidding? I was always the third wheel with you two.”

From Literature

But despite Payne’s claim, explaining his decision to cast Randolph to The Times, that “if she’s stealing every movie she’s in, then it’s time she should be a lead,” Mary might be better described as a third wheel in the story, serving primarily as a bridge between Hunham and Tully as she cooks their meals and grudgingly allows them to join her in the evenings as she watches “The Newlywed Game.”

From Los Angeles Times

“I’m sure the other institutions and athletic directors and administrations would say similar things for their program and advocate there. It’s unfortunate that somebody was going to be the third wheel, and apparently the computer decided it was us.”

From Seattle Times

Kupp, a third-round pick, was the third wheel behind Robert Woods and Sammy Watkins.

From Los Angeles Times

When promoting Urge Overkill’s second comeback album, “Oui,” in 2022, King said Rowan “really was a third wheel.”

From Los Angeles Times