- Home
- Idioms
- pat
pat
have (something) off pat
To learn, master, or understand something perfectly, to the point of requiring little or no focus to do, recall, or accomplish it. I know it's a little tricky getting the hang of the machine, but keep at it, and you'll have it off pat in no time. My sister is such a musical prodigy that she can have a song off pat after listening to it only once or twice.
learn (something) down pat
To learn, master, or understand something perfectly, to the point of requiring little or no focus to do, recall, or accomplish it. I made sure to learn my speech down pat before the ceremony so I wouldn't spend the whole time looking down at piece of paper. My sister is such a musical prodigy that she can learn a song down pat after listening to it only once or twice.
off pat
Perfectly; to a point of flawless and effortless execution. (Typically "have or learn something off pat.") I made sure to learn my speech off pat before the ceremony so I wouldn't spend the whole time looking down at piece of paper. My sister is such a musical prodigy that she can have a song off pat after listening to it only once or twice.
on (one's) Pat Malone
Without or not near to anyone else; on one's own; all alone. Australian rhyming slang referring to a ballad about an Irishman called Pat Malone, who suffered numerous misfortunes after emigrating to Australia. Primarily heard in Australia. To be quite honest, after a hectic week of work, I much prefer having a drink on my Pat Malone than being around a bunch of people. Mary's been on her Pat Malone ever since Rupert broke up with her last week.
on (one's) pat
Without or not near to anyone else; on one's own; all alone. Shortened from the Australian rhyming slang "on one's Pat Malone," referring to a ballad about an Irishman called Pat Malone, who suffered numerous misfortunes after emigrating to Australia. Primarily heard in Australia. To be quite honest, after a hectic week of work, I much prefer having a drink on my pat than being around a bunch of people. Mary's been on her pat ever since Rupert broke up with her last week.
be on (one's) Pat Malone
To be without anyone else; to be on one's own. Australian rhyming slang referring to a ballad about an Irishman (called Pat Malone) who suffered numerous misfortunes after emigrating to Australia. Primarily heard in Australia. To be quite honest, after a hectic week of work, I much prefer being on my Pat Malone than spending the weekend around a bunch of people. Mary's been on her Pat Malone ever since Rupert broke up with her last week.
be on (one's) pat
To be without anyone else; to be on one's own. Shortened from the Australian rhyming slang "to be on one's Pat Malone," which refers to a ballad about an Irishman (called Pat Malone) who suffered numerous misfortunes after emigrating to Australia. Primarily heard in Australia. To be quite honest, after a hectic week of work, I much prefer being on my pat than spending the weekend around a bunch of people. Mary's been on her pat ever since Rupert broke up with her last week.
down pat
Learned, mastered, or understood perfectly, to the point of requiring little or no focus to do, recall, or accomplish. Make sure you practice these equations until you have them down pat. I always get my routine down pat so there won't be any room for error during the performance.
pat on the back
Praise given to a person for an achievement or a job well done. Treating his daughter to ice cream was Joe's way of giving her a pat on the back after she won first place in the science fair. The only reason she stays late at work is to receive a pat on the back from her boss.
have calluses from patting one's own back
and break one's arm patting oneself on the backFig. to be a braggart. If you haven't heard about Bill's latest achievement, he'd be glad to tell you. He has calluses from patting his own back. Jane: I did a really wonderful job, if I do say so myself. Tom: If you're not careful, you'll break your arm patting yourself on the back.
pat answer
a quick, easy answer; a simplified or evasive answer. Don't just give them a pat answer. Give some more explanation and justification. Otherwise you will just end up answering a lot more questions.
pat someone on the back
and give someone a pat on the back 1. Lit. to pat someone's back to show praise. The coach patted each player on the back after the game.
2. Fig. to praise someone for something. The teacher patted all the students on the back for their good work. They were patting themselves on the back for winning when the final whistle blew.
pat someone or something on something
to tap someone or something on a particular place with the open hand. She patted the child on the bottom. I patted the car on its hood to show how proud I was of it.
pat something down
to tap something down with the open hand. I heaped some soil over the seeds and patted it down. I patted down the soil.
stand pat (on something)
to stick firmly to one's position or opinions. I am going to stand pat on this issue. I thought you would stand pat in the absence of new information.
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.
a pat on the back
praise a slap on the back The White House gave her a pat on the back Thursday, when the president said she was a highly valued member of his staff.
Related vocabulary: a kick in the buttstand pat
(slightly formal) to leave something just as it is, without any change While he stood pat, other people found a better way to solve the problem.
learn something off pat
(British, American & Australian) also learn something down pat (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. (British, American & Australian)
a pat on the back
if you give someone a pat on the back, you praise them for something good that they have done (often + for ) She deserves a pat on the back for keeping things going while you were away.
stand pat
(American informal) also sit pat (Australian informal) to refuse to make any changes Our advice to investors is, stand pat - the recession will soon be over.
See learn off patpat on the back
A word or gesture of support, approval, or praise, as in The bonus she gave her assistant was a pat on the back for doing a good job. [Early 1800s]
stand pat
Refuse to change one's position or opinion, as in We're going to stand pat on this amendment to the bylaws. This expression may be derived from the verb pat in the sense of "strike firmly and accurately." [Late 1800s]
pat down
v.1. To flatten or mold something by tapping it gently with the hands or a flat implement: The baker patted down the dough with a rolling pin. We patted the clay down before shaping it.
2. To search someone or something with the hands, especially for weapons or illegal substances: The police patted down the suspect for guns. The customs officials patted us down.
stand pat (on something)
in. to stick firmly to one’s position or opinions. I thought you would stand pat in the absence of new information.
stand pat
verb pat on the back
An expression or gesture of praise or approval: Let's give them a pat on the back for doing a good job.
stand pat
1. To oppose or resist change.
2. Games To play one's poker hand without drawing more cards.