the third degree的中文含义是逼供拷问。例如：His wife gave him the third degree after he got home late.他太晚回家遭到太太的逼问。

the third degree这个常见用语最有可能的起源与一个名为梅森协会（the Masons）的组织传统有关。若要成为该组织最高等级的成员，也就是第三等会员（the third degree of the Masons或称Master Mason），必须接受许多严格的测试与面谈。直到19世纪末或20世纪初，这个用语才成为现在较为广义的意思：面对来自他人的严苛询问。这一词通常与警察盘问有关，但也可以用来描述烧伤的程度。
看看老外聊天时怎么用the third degree：
Ralph：How did the job interview go？
工作面试顺利吗？
Susan：It was really tough.They asked a lot of hard questions.
真的很不简单。他们问了许多难题。
Ralph：It sounds like they gave you the third degree.
听起来他们拷问了你一番。
Susan：I'll say，but Ithink Ihave a good chance of getting the job.
对啊，不过我想我录取的机会挺大的。
the third degree例句精选：
He gave me the third degree when I finally got home.
我终于到家时，他对我盘问再三。
I was given the third degree to find out what had happened.
我为发生过的事情受到了盘问。
As soon as I got home, my mother gave the third degree.
我一回到家，妈妈就对我问这问那的。
If dad finds out I smoke, he'll give me the third degree.
如果老爸知道我吸烟，他会修理我的。