“Two’s company, three’s a crowd” is the proverb about the awkwardness of an unwanted third person. Here is what it means, where it comes from, how to use it, and a few sayings that share its idea.
What Does “Two’s Company, Three’s a Crowd” Mean?
The proverb means that two people are happy and comfortable together, but the arrival of a third person spoils things, making one of them feel unwelcome or in the way. It is used especially of couples in love, who would rather be alone together than have someone else join them — but it applies to any close pair whose intimacy is broken up by an extra person. The third party, however well-meaning, becomes “a crowd.”
Origin of the Proverb
The proverb in its familiar form dates from the nineteenth century, though the idea it expresses — that a third person disturbs the closeness of two — is far older and is found in earlier sayings about company and privacy. The neat, rhythmic phrasing of “two’s company, three’s a crowd” made it stick, and it has been the standard way of hinting that a third person is one too many ever since.
Examples in a Sentence
- “I left the couple to their dinner — two’s company, three’s a crowd.”
- “He tagged along on their date, forgetting that two’s company, three’s a crowd.”
- “You two go ahead; two’s company, three’s a crowd.”
Similar Proverbs
- Two in distress makes sorrow less — pairs comfort each other; outsiders intrude.
- One is too few, three is too many — two is the comfortable number.
- The third is unwanted — a plain statement of the same idea.
- Two lovers in the rain have no need of an umbrella — a couple is complete in itself.
For more sayings about company and relationships, see our love proverbs and the full library of proverbs and their meanings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “two’s company, three’s a crowd” mean?
It means that two people are content together, but a third person spoils things and makes one of them feel unwelcome — especially with couples.
Where does the proverb come from?
The familiar form dates from the nineteenth century, though the idea that a third person disturbs the closeness of two is much older.
What is a similar proverb?
“One is too few, three is too many” shares the idea that two is the comfortable number and a third is an intrusion.