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by PrettySmart on October 3rd, 2009
It's a metaphor.
Think of a bicycle. It only needs 2 wheels to work properly; a 3rd wheel would get in the way. Or even a car (2 couples); they only need 4 wheels to ride properly; a 4th wheel is uneccessary.
Who said, "There is no time like the present"?
That person deserves a medal!
by Phillis - Zacks little sister on May 18th, 2009
| 11 people like this
Why is "the pot calling the kettle black" a bad thing. I have a black fridge/toaster/microwave and I love 'em. What's the deal here?
by RosieGHM Jetpacker on September 9th, 2010
| 2 people like this
What does the phrase "the end justifies the means" mean?
by seldomseen on May 4th, 2009
| 10 people like this
What is the etymology of the phrase "to rule the roast"? Does it have any relation to food? Thank you!
by Anonymous on May 20th, 2009
| 1 person likes this
In a non-fencing context, what is the correct usage of the french word 'Touche'?
by Tonibee on May 29th, 2009
| 3 people like this
You're reading How did the phrase "a third wheel" originate to mean that one is the extra, unwanted person in a party of three?
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Comments
I believe it comes from sociolgist George Simmels theory of Dyads and Triads. Where a Dyad is a relatively stable two person group, in which each person plays an active part to keep the group alive. - A Triad is faily unstable three-people group. Triadic Segregation - the tendency for two people in a traid to segregate and form a coalition, pair or dyad while the third person forms an isolate.
by AC_W on December 13th, 2011