pat
pat1 / pat/ • v. (pat·ted , pat·ting ) [tr.] touch quickly and gently with the flat of the hand: he patted him consolingly on the shoulder| [tr.] a nurse washed her all over and patted her dry. ∎ draw attention to (something) by tapping it gently: he patted the bench beside him and I sat down. ∎ [tr.] mold into shape or put in position with gentle taps: she patted down the earth in each pot.• n. 1. a light stroke with the hand: giving him a friendly pat on the arm, she went off to join the others. 2. a compact mass of soft material: a pat of butter.PHRASES: a pat on the back an expression of approval or congratulation: they deserve a pat on the back for a job well done.pat someone on the back express approval of or admiration for someone: she needs her own claque to applaud and pat her on the back.pat2 • adj. simple and somewhat glib or unconvincing: instead of enlightened minds I found prejudice and pat answers.• adv. at exactly the right moment or in the right way; conveniently or opportunely: the happy ending came rather pat.PHRASES: down patsee down1 .stand pat stick stubbornly to one's opinion or decision: many ranchers stood pat with the old strains of cattle. ∎ (in poker and blackjack) retain one's hand as dealt, without drawing other cards.DERIVATIVES: pat·ly adv.pat·ness n.
pat
A. (dial.) stroke. blow XIV; gentle stroke or tap XIX;
B. sound made by patting XVII;
C. small mass shaped by patting XVIII. imit., like (dial.) bat, of similar date; not evidenced XV–XVI and app. re-formed XVII from pat vb. strike XVI, tap or beat lightly XVII.
Hence pat adv. ‘with a fitting stroke’, aptly, opportunely; first in phr. hit pat.
pat
have something off pat have something memorized perfectly.
stand pat stick stubbornly to one's opinion or decision; in the card games poker and blackjack standing pat is retaining one's hand as dealt, without drawing other cards.