Third time is the charm

Posted by Gary Delp on June 26, 2006

I have checked for the origin of "third time is the charm", and its variations, "third time'a a charm" and "third time's the charm" and not found the source. I have hear speculation that it is the same as "Third time lucky", but have heard that that comes from english common law, where if someone is tried and sentanced to be hung, and the trick does not work once, twice, and three times, then after the third time of it not killing the poor fellow, he goes free: third time lucky.

So I think third time is the charm is different. Someone told me it came from shakespeare, but I have not been able to find it.

• Third time is the charm ESC 26/June/06