pat on the back
Speech parts
1. pat on the back - Noun
2. pat on the back - Verb
3. pat on the back - Phrase
Meaning
pat on the back (plural pats on the back)
(idiomatic) Praise, congratulations.
Give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done.
pat on the back (third-person singular simple present pats on the back, present participle patting on the back, simple past and past participle patted on the back)
(idiomatic, transitive) To praise or congratulate.
Don't pat yourself on the back so vigorously; you might hurt yourself.
pat-on-the-back (plural pats-on-the-back)
Alternative form of pat on the back
"A self-congratulatory apparatus having a simulated human hand carried on a pivoting arm suspended form shoulder supported member. The hand is manually swingable into and out of contact with the user's back to give an amusing or an important pat-on-the-back." (Abstract of U.S. patent 4,608,967 issued on September 2, 1986 [1])
Alternative names
pat-on-the-back
Synonyms
Antonyms
Show all antonymsExamples
A burly sergeant came into the home, handed Ned an more powder horn, a small burlap shoulder sack with some dried meat and two loaves of rye bread, and a pat on the back again.
Mercury is about to end it's retrograde phase in your career sector so get ready to receive the credit you deserve in the form of a promotion or pat on the back.
So many teams get that pat on the back for even making it to the Super Bowl, no matter if they hemorrhage players and fade into mediocrity the year after.
As wiped-out as you may be, give yourself a well-earned pat on the back.
But Scelfo also deserves a pat on the back for his staffing skills.
At this stage when the countdown for the visit of President Bush to the sub-continent has begun anything less than a hearty pat on the back from the US will only raise the discomfort levels in Pakistan.