pat (redirected from pats on the back)

have something off pat (British, American & Australian, American)

learn something off pat - to learn something so well that you do not have to think about how to do or say it. I've given the same speech so many times I have (= know) it down pat now.

learn something off pat (British, American & Australian, American)

to learn something so well that you do not have to think about how to do or say it. All the answers he'd learned off pat for the interview sounded unconvincing now.

See also: learn

a pat on the back

if you give someone a pat on the back, you praise them for something good that they have done. She deserves a pat on the back for keeping things going while you were away. (often + for)

See also: back

pat someone on the back

a pat on the back - if you give someone a pat on the back, you praise them for something good that they have done. Too many people are patting the players on the back and telling them how great they are.

See also: back

stand pat (American, informal, Australian, informal)

to refuse to make any changes. Our advice to investors is, stand pat - the recession will soon be over.

See also: stand

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have something down pat

to learn something so well that you do not have to think about how to do or say it. Bud had his answers down pat, but he knew there could be some questions on the test that he hadn't thought of.

See also: down

a pat on the back

praise. The White House gave her a pat on the back Thursday, when the president said she was a highly valued member of his staff.

a kick in the butt

See also: back

stand pat

to leave something just as it is, without any change. While he stood pat, other people found a better way to solve the problem.

See also: stand