事不过三 (shì bú) — (idiom) three strikes and you're out; something should not be allowed to happen more than three times
Definition
Literally 'things don't go past three' — an idiom warning that the same mistake or transgression should not be tolerated a third time. Often paired with a concrete consequence (e.g. '再…一次就…') for the final strike.
idiom
three strikes and you're outsomething should not be allowed to happen more than three times
Examples
- ，事不过三，。Nǐ yǐ jīng fàn le liǎng cì cuò wù, shì bú, bù néng zài fàn dì sān cì.You've already made two mistakes; three strikes and you're out — you can't make a third.
- ，事不过三，。Tā qián liǎng cì jiè qián dōu méi hái, shì bú, wǒ bù xiǎng zài jiè gěi tā le.He didn't pay back the first two times he borrowed money; three strikes and you're out — I don't want to lend to him again.
- ：'事不过三，。'Mā ma jǐng gào wǒ shuō: ' shì bú, zài wǎn guī yí cì jiù kòu líng yòng qián. 'Mom warned me: 'Three strikes — if you come home late one more time, I'll deduct your allowance.'
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