2pat somebody/yourself on the backPRAISEto praise someone or yourself for doing something well 〔因干得好而〕赞扬某人/自己
You can pat yourselves on the back for a job well done.
你们干得很出色,可以自我表扬一下。
Examples from the Corpus
pat somebody/yourself on the back• Cliff Nudelman pats me on the back.• Every person on the street will pat you on the back.• For most of that ride it patted itself on the back.• The managerpatted Stuart on the back.• This time I patted myself on the back all the way to the hotel.• She should pat herself on the back and take a well-earned break.• I patted him on the back as hard as I dared but he still couldn't breathe.• How dare she wave her bloody job at us like she wanted us to pat her on the back for it?• Because when I pat myself on the back, the next sensation is usually a sharpkicklower down.
Examples from the Corpus
pat• Arnold shook hands formally with Mr and Mrs Hendry and patted David on the head.• Fenella was seated next to Inchbad, who patted her hand and said she was a pretty little thing, but seemed preoccupied.• "Don't worry, " he said, patting her hand gently.• Roz reached over and patted her hand.• He got up, patted her on the shoulder, and gave her a quickkiss.• Nancy patted her pillow, trying to make herself more comfortable.• She strokes her arm, pats her shoulder, smiles up at her.• "The baby's due in March, " Caroline said grinning and patting her stomach.• Roxanne pats his hand and tells him not to get upset.• She unwound the curtain, then wet her fingers and patted his mussedgrayhair.• He removed his hand from my knee to pat his over-perfectly coiffed hair in preparation for the Meeting.• Natalia pattedMephistopheles, who wondered what had so revolutionised his life with so many outings.• He looked as if he was going to pat the astronauts on the head.• She bent down and patted the dog on the head.
pat2 noun [countableC]
1TOUCHa friendly act of touching someone with your hand flat 〔表示友善的〕轻拍
2.pat of butterDFa small flat amount of butter 一小块黄油
Examples from the Corpus
pat of butter• Fry in a pat of butter.• Attach a bean to the handle end of each spoon with a pat of butter.
3a pat on the backinformalPRAISEpraise for something that you have done well 称赞,赞扬
Alex deserves a pat on the back for all his hard work.
亚历克斯干活十分卖力,应该受到表扬。
Examples from the Corpus
a pat on the back• That was intended to be a pat on the back - as one of several others - for me.• I think you all deservea pat on the back for your hard work.• The tournament-sponsoring Thunderbirds deserve a pat on the back.• I think we should give Fairclough a pat on the back for his performances in the last few games.• Just a smile or a pat on the back may keep a student working.• It amounts to a pat on the back.• Try starting with a pat on the back to soften the blow of criticism.• No one gets past him without an encouragingword, a pat on the back, a smile.• Now congratulate your loved one and give yourself a pat on the back as well for your own agility around the course.
pat• The tournament-sponsoring Thunderbirds deserve a pat on the back.• CoachBrown gave him a pat on the shoulder.• Finally, there would be more than a pat and a prayer to be distributed along the halls.• So when your youngsterbarks and looks back at you, reassure him with a pat.• He gets three bets and takes up his butterpat and puts it on his knife, gives it a flip.• Charlie Chaplin had the movement off pat, I haven't, only the bruises! ...• Brian and I didn't talk, but occasionally gave one another a reassuring pat.• Affection may be expressed with hugs, smiles, pats on the head, friendly greetings, and being tucked into bed.
gave ... pat• Hilbert leant towards Lewis when he told him about the will and gave him a pat on the knee.
pat3adjectiveadj [usually before noun]
ANSWER/REPLYa patanswer or explanation seems too quick and too simple and sounds as if it has been used before 〔回答或解释〕脱口而出的,预先准备好似的
There are no pat answers to these questions.
这些问题没有现成的答案。
Examples from the Corpus
pat• There are no pat answers or simple solutions to this.• This song of himself is filled with exclamation points and pattruisms, however.
pat4adverbadv
1.have something off patBritish EnglishBrE, have something down pat American EnglishKNOW something to know something thoroughly so that you can say it, perform it etc immediately without thinking about it 对某事滚瓜烂熟,对某事熟悉得可随口说出[随即表演等]SYN (off) by heart
Examples from the Corpus
have something off pat• She only had to repeat the lines once or twice, and she'd have them down pat.• Like most politicians he had all his answers off pat, but he didn't have anything particularly new or interesting to say.
2.stand patAmerican EnglishAmESAME to refuse to change your opinion or decision 坚持自己的意见[决定]