pat
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++pat1 /pæt/ ●●○ verb (patted, patting) [transitive] 1 TOUCHto lightly touch someone or something several times with your hand flat, especially to give comfort 〔尤为给予安慰〕轻拍 → stroke He patted the dog affectionately. 他亲热地轻轻拍了拍那只狗。► see thesaurus at touch2 pat somebody/yourself on the back PRAISEto 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。→ See Verb table
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 quick kiss.• 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 mussed gray hair.• He removed his hand from my knee to pat his over-perfectly coiffed hair in preparation for the Meeting.• Natalia patted Mephistopheles, 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 [countable] 1 TOUCHa friendly act of touching someone with your hand flat 〔表示友善的〕轻拍 Mrs Dodd gave the child a pat on the head. 多德夫人轻轻拍了拍那个孩子的头。2. pat of butter DFa small flat amount of butter 一小块黄油3 a pat on the back informalPRAISE praise 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。 → cowpatExamples from the Corpus
pat• The tournament-sponsoring Thunderbirds deserve a pat on the back.• Coach Brown 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 youngster barks and looks back at you, reassure him with a pat.• He gets three bets and takes up his butter pat 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.pat3 adjective [usually before noun] ANSWER/REPLYa pat answer 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 pat truisms, however.pat4 adverb 1. have something off pat British English, 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 heart2. stand pat American EnglishSAME to refuse to change your opinion or decision 坚持自己的意见[决定]Examples from the Corpus
pat• He had it exactly down pat.• They have not stood pat while other teams attempted to capitalize on their setbacks.Origin pat2 (1300-1400) From the sound made by pattingto lightly someone Corpus something or touch several
pat
pat1 /pæt/ 
verb (past tense and past participle patted, present participle patting) [transitive]
1. to lightly touch someone or something several times with your hand flat, especially to give comfort ⇨ stroke:
He patted the dog affectionately.
2. pat somebody/yourself on the back to praise someone or yourself for doing something well:
You can pat yourselves on the back for a job well done.
■ touch somebody gently or lovingly
▪stroke to move your hand gently over something, especially in a loving way: She stroked the child’s hair. | Our cat won’t let people stroke him.
▪pat to touch an animal or child lightly several times, with your hand flat: He knelt down to pat the dog. | She patted the little boy’s head.
▪pet to touch and move your hand gently over someone, especially an animal or child: The goats, pigs, sheep, and cows here allow you to pet them.
▪caress /kəˈres/ to gently touch a part of someone’s body in a loving way: a mother caressing her child | She caressed his cheek.
▪fondle to touch a part of someone’s body in a loving or sexual way – use this especially about touching someone in a sexual way that is not wanted: He tried to fondle her and she immediately pulled away from him.
pat2 noun [countable]
Mrs Dodd gave the child a pat on the head.
2. pat of butter a small flat amount of butter
3. a pat on the back informal praise for something that you have done well:
Alex deserves a pat on the back for all his hard work.
⇨ cowpat
pat3 adjective [usually before noun]
a pat answer or explanation seems too quick and too simple and sounds as if it has been used before:
There are no pat answers to these questions.
pat4 adverb
1. have something off pat British English, have something down pat American English to know something thoroughly so that you can say it, perform it etc immediately without thinking about it
SYN (off) by heart
2. stand pat American English to refuse to change your opinion or decision
| I |
verb (past tense and past participle patted, present participle patting) [transitive]1. to lightly touch someone or something several times with your hand flat, especially to give comfort ⇨ stroke:
2. pat somebody/yourself on the back to praise someone or yourself for doing something well:
| THESAURUS |
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| II |
noun [countable] Date: 1300-1400
Origin: From the sound made by patting
1. a friendly act of touching someone with your hand flat:Origin: From the sound made by patting
2. pat of butter a small flat amount of butter
3. a pat on the back informal praise for something that you have done well:
⇨ cowpat
| III |
adjective [usually before noun]a pat answer or explanation seems too quick and too simple and sounds as if it has been used before:
| IV |
adverb1. have something off pat British English, have something down pat American English to know something thoroughly so that you can say it, perform it etc immediately without thinking about it
SYN (off) by heart
2. stand pat American English to refuse to change your opinion or decision
interest an activity or a subject that you do or study for pleasure in your spare time 指业余爱好（活动或科目） ：◆ Her main interests are music and gardening. 她的主要爱好是音乐和园艺。 hobby an activity that you do for pleasure in your spare time 指业余爱好（活动） ：◆ His hobbies include swimming and cooking. 他爱好游泳和烹饪。 game a children's activity when they play with toys, pretend to be sb else, etc.; an activity that you do to have fun 指儿童游戏、玩耍、娱乐 ：◆ a game of cops and robbers 警察抓强盗的游戏 ◆ He was playing games with the dog. 他在逗狗玩。 pastime an activity that people do for pleasure in their spare time 指消遣、休闲活动 ：◆ Eating out is the national pastime in France. 在法国，下馆子是全国性的消遣活动。
interest, hobby or pastime? 用 interest、hobby 还是 pastime？
A hobby is often more active than aninterest .* hobby 常较 interest 主动、积极 ：◆ His main hobby is football (= .he plays football )他的主要业余爱好是踢足球（他踢足球）。 ◆ His main interest is football (= .he watches and reads about football, and may or may not play it )他的主要业余爱好是足球（他看足球赛和阅读有关足球的消息，但不一定踢足球）。 Pastime is used when talking about people in general; when you are talking about yourself or an individual person it is more usual to useinterest orhobby .* pastime 泛指一般人的消遣活动，指自己或个人的业余爱好较常用 interest 或 hobby ：◆ Eating out is the national interest/hobby in France. ◆ Do you have any pastimes?
Patterns
a popular interest/hobby/pastimeto have/share interests/hobbiesto take up/pursue a(n) interest/hobby
usually
especially