be the third wheel

USAGE NOTE

This idiom may be literally translated as "ser la tercera rueda."

be the third wheel(

)

An intransitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and does not require a direct object (e.g., Everybody please stand up.).

intransitive verb phrase

A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).

(colloquial)

An idiom is a phrase with a meaning different from the literal meaning of the separate words that make it up (e.g., break a leg).

(idiom)

(general)

a. estar de chaperón

A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).

(colloquial)

An idiom is a phrase with a meaning different from the literal meaning of the separate words that make it up (e.g., break a leg).

(idiom)

I was out with my girlfriend last night, but my little brother was the third wheel. What a drag!Anoche salí con mi novia, pero mi hermanito estaba ahí de chaperón. ¡Qué plomo!

b. estar de violinista

A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).

(colloquial)

An idiom is a phrase with a meaning different from the literal meaning of the separate words that make it up (e.g., break a leg).

(idiom)

I kind of feel like I'm the third wheel here. - Yeah, you think? I tried to tell you!Siento como que estoy aquí de violinista. - ¿Te parece? ¡Traté de decírtelo!

c. ser sujetavelas

A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).

(colloquial)

An idiom is a phrase with a meaning different from the literal meaning of the separate words that make it up (e.g., break a leg).

(idiom)

Regionalism used in Spain

(Spain)

I don't want to be the third wheel. Why don't the two of you just go to the movie without me?No quiero ser sujetavelas. ¿Por qué no vais vosotros dos al cine sin mí?

d. estar de jueves

A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).

(colloquial)

An idiom is a phrase with a meaning different from the literal meaning of the separate words that make it up (e.g., break a leg).

(idiom)

Regionalism used in Argentina

(Argentina)

I don't want to be the third wheel. - No, no, don't worry about it. Come to the show with us!No quiero estar de jueves. - No, no, tranquilo. ¡Vení al recital con nosotros!

Examples