three-second rule
The 'three-second rule' varies by context, including sports regulations, driving safety, and informal food safety guidelines.
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Definition
B2Basketball
(technical, sports)A regulation preventing an offensive player from staying in the key area for more than three seconds.
Example
- The player was called for a three-second violation for staying in the paint too long.
B2Driving
(guideline, safety)A recommendation to keep a three-second distance between vehicles to ensure safe following distance.
Example
- To avoid accidents, drivers should follow the three-second rule on the highway.
B1Food Safety
(informal)An informal belief that food dropped on the floor is safe to eat if picked up within three seconds.
Example
- He quickly picked up the cookie, citing the three-second rule.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "three-second rule":