phrases - 'Third wheel' or 'fifth wheel'?


If you are the "extra" person in a situation, are you the "third wheel" or the "fifth wheel"?


Some books—like Film Noir Guide—say "third":



O'Keefe plays an escaped convict on the run with his moll (Trevor). Along the way they grab a hostage (Hunt) who works for O'Keefe's lawyer. O'Keefe and Hunt eventually fall for each other, leaving the jealous Trevor feeling like a third wheel. Burr is the hood O'Keefe took the rap for, and Ireland is Burr's vicious henchman. The cast in this hard-boiled and fast-paced noir is excellent, especially Trevor as the lovesick tag-a-long.



but others—like A Wife in Musashino—say "five":



Tomiko was especially kind to her daughter this evening. She held Yukiko's hand, stroked her hair, and explained various things about the children's story Tsutomu was narrating. She enjoyed demonstrating in front of her rival an affection she held in common with Tsutomu.


Tomiko's arrow struck home. Michiko felt like a fifth wheel sitting next to her. Her wariness regarding Tomiko's flirtations, which she had first experienced when she wasn't sure of her feelings for Tsutomu, came back to her.





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