The third degree

Definitions

• intense questioning
  To subject someone to intense questioning or interrogation, especially by the police or other authorities

• thorough examination
  To thoroughly examine or investigate something, often to uncover the truth or get to the bottom of a situation

Examples of The third degree

• The police interrogated him for hours, really putting the third degree on him to try to get him to confess.

  When police suspect someone is guilty, they may interrogate them intensely, using harsh tactics and pressing questions in an attempt to elicit a confession. This is often referred to as "putting someone through the third degree." The phrase "third degree" originated in the 1920s, when criminal investigations were sometimes carried out by secret societies or organizations known as "third degrees." These groups used severe physical and psychological punishment to force suspects to reveal information.

• My boss grilled me for nearly an hour in a meeting, asking me all sorts of probing questions to determine the exact nature of my mistake.

  In this context, the phrase "grilled me" is an informal way of saying that the boss subjected the speaker to intense questioning or scrutiny. The phrase "putting someone through the third degree" is often used to describe similarly intense or rigorous interrogations, whether physical or psychological in nature.

• Despite being released without charge, the suspect was sternly questioned by police for hours, leaving him feeling like he had indeed been put through the third degree.

  Even after being cleared of suspicion, the extent of the police questioning left the suspect feeling as though he had been subjected to an especially rigorous interrogation. The phrase "left him feeling like he had indeed been put through the third degree" highlights the intensity and forcefulness of the questioning, even if the outcome was ultimately positive for the suspect.

• The detective's persistent questioning left the witness feeling like she was being put through the third degree, making her nervous and uneasy.

  When someone is being deeply investigated or questioned, they may feel as though they are being subjected to an intense or invasive procedure, much like being put through the third degree. The witness's discomfort in this situation is a reflection of the intense pressure that often accompanies intensive investigations or interrogations, whether they ultimately lead to a confession or clearance of suspicion.

• The police interrogated the suspect for hours, putting him through the third degree to extract a confession.

  The phrase "putting someone through the third degree" is a figurative expression that means subjecting someone to intense, exhaustive questioning or interrogation, often involving intimidation or coercion, in order to extract information or a confession. In this example, the police are using invasive and high-pressure questioning techniques to extract a confession from the suspect.

• I felt like my boss was giving me the third degree during our meeting today, really grilling me on my work performance.

  Here, the author is using the idiom to describe a situation where someone is being aggressively questioned or scrutinized, often suggestive of disapproval or suspicion. The author feels that their boss's line of questioning was overly critical and taxing.

• The salesperson really put the third degree on me during the negotiation, trying to get me to agree to a higher price.

  This example shows how the idiom can be adapted to mean someone is applying intense pressure to achieve their desired outcome, as the salesperson is using persuasive tactics to persuade the author to pay a higher price.

• My teacher really put me through the third degree during the exam, asking me some really tough questions.

  The author is using the idiom to describe a difficult exam experience, where the teacher asked some particularly challenging questions. The use of the idiom here portrays the author's sense of discomfort and pressure in the testing situation.

Conclusion

The idiom "the third degree" is used to describe intense questioning or thorough examination. It can be used in a literal sense, such as when someone is being interrogated by the police, or in a more figurative sense, when someone is being closely scrutinized or investigated.

The first meaning refers to subjecting someone to intense questioning, often in a coercive or intimidating manner. The second meaning involves a thorough examination or investigation, usually to uncover the truth or to gain a deeper understanding of a situation. In both cases, the idiom implies a high level of scrutiny and pressure.

Origin of "The third degree"

The origin of the idiom "the third degree" is uncertain, but it is believed to have originated in the early 20th century in the United States. It may have originated from the Freemasons, where the third degree is the highest level of membership and involves a rigorous initiation process. Another theory is that it originated from police interrogation techniques, where the third degree referred to the most intense level of questioning.

Regardless of its exact origin, the idiom has become widely used in English to convey the idea of intense questioning or thorough examination. It has been popularized in literature, film, and everyday conversation, and continues to be a commonly understood expression in modern English.