pat

views updated May 29 2018

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

views updated May 23 2018

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

views updated May 11 2018

pat at exactly the right moment or in the right way; very conveniently or opportunely.
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.

PAT

views updated May 14 2018

Pat

views updated May 29 2018

Pat

a small mass of soft substance, formed or shaped by patting.

Examples : pat of butter, 1754; of water, 1888.

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