- pat
- [[t]pæ̱t[/t]]
pats, patting, patted1) VERB If you pat something or someone, you tap them lightly, usually with your hand held flat.
[V n on n] `Don't you worry about any of this,' she said patting me on the knee...
[V n] The landlady patted her hair nervously...
[V n adj] Wash the lettuce and pat it dry.
N-COUNTPat is also a noun.He gave her an encouraging pat on the shoulder.
3) ADJ-GRADED (disapproval) If you say that an answer or explanation is pat, you disapprove of it because it is too simple and sounds as if it has been prepared in advance.There's no pat answer to that...
Despite the film's merits I felt it was too pat.
Syn:glib, facile4) PHRASE: V inflects (approval) If you give someone a pat on the back or if you pat them on the back, you show them that you think they have done well and deserve to be praised.The players deserve a pat on the back...
If you do something well, give yourself a pat on the back.
5) PHRASE: V inflects If you have an answer or explanation down pat or off pat, you have prepared and learned it so you are ready to say it at any time.I have my story down pat...
He had his answer off pat.
6) PHRASE: V inflects If you stand pat, you refuse to change your mind about something. [mainly AM]On the other side, the men stood pat and were unyielding...
It makes it hard for the Fed to do anything but stand pat till the economy's direction becomes clearer.
English dictionary. 2008.
