Phrase to say that something which happened twice already is likely to happen again

Solution 1:

I'm not superstitous but I have often heard more superstious people say:

Bad things come in threes!

so that might be something. This is most often said after occurence two in anticipation of occurence three.

I would have thought "jamais deux sans trois" would be more like "never twice without a third [time]", and I guess I would suggest that while not an idiomatic expression there is nothing wrong per se with a basic translation as a phrase.

If it happened twice, it will probably happen again!

Solution 2:

I've already heard those in English :

• everything comes in threes
• never two without three
• good things come in threes
• bad things come in threes

Solution 3:

There is a classic Wizard of Id cartoon in which the Little King throws a servant in the dungeon for 20 years for being late to work. The King's advisor whispers that this was the first lateness in 20 years of service. The King replies

Can't you see the pattern forming?

Solution 4:

One could always say it is a safe bet or a good bet that 'whatever' will happen again. (reference)

Or, depending on the situation, one could always say history repeats itself to convey that a situation is happening again, or is likely to happen again. (reference)

(I personally prefer the second option over the first one)

Solution 5:

A more generalized version would be "When it rains, it pours", which I was taught back in French class was equivalent at least in usage if not literal meaning to "jamais deux sans trois".