Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

pat on the back

Idioms  

  1. A word or gesture of support, approval, or praise, as in The bonus she gave her assistant was a pat on the back for doing a good job. [Early 1800s]

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Reassurance, a well-deserved pat on the back, best wishes for good health and one piece of your favorite candy.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 29, 2026

"I give myself a little pat on the back for that."

From Barron's • Jan. 24, 2026

Duckett consoled Bethell with a pat on the back as he walked off.

From BBC • Dec. 7, 2024

Gardner, who personally greeted each of his players as they warmed up before the game, did the same afterward with a hug or a pat on the back.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 30, 2024

I had already figured out it never hurt to give somebody a pat on the back.

From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.