third wheel
Plural
third wheels
1
someone who is considered as an extra or unwanted person in a situation, especially in presence of a couple
The idiom "third wheel" originates from the world of transportation. In the early days of bicycles, tricycles, and other wheeled vehicles, it was common for a third, smaller wheel to be added for stability. When applied figuratively, the term refers to a person who feels left out or superfluous in the company of a couple, similar to the way an extra wheel on a bicycle might seem unnecessary and awkward. The third wheel often feels like they are intruding on an intimate or exclusive situation.
- When I went out with my best friend and her new boyfriend, I felt like a third wheel all evening.
- Sarah and David invited me to their romantic dinner, but I ended up feeling like a third wheel as they shared inside jokes.
- Being the only single person in the group, I sometimes feel like a third wheel when my friends talk about their relationships.
- It's hard to enjoy a movie night with a couple when you're the third wheel; I should have brought a book.
- I hate being the third wheel on their road trips; it's like they forget I'm even there.