View synonyms for rat-a-tat

rat-a-tat

[ rat-uh-tat ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

First recorded in 1675–85; imitative

A lot of newspaper columns used to be written in a rat-a-tat-tat, fast-paced style—and they tended to be funny.

Rat-a-tat, rat′-a-tat′, n. sound of repeated knocks, as of a drumstick.

In the woods one seldom hears from him anything but the rattling rat-a-tat-tat, as he hammers away on a dry old pine stub.

Sophie lay back in her chair, eyes half closed, fingers beating a slow rat-a-tat on the chair-arm.

A little while after they heard a rat-a-tat at the garden door.

Then they heard a rat-a-tat, and the voice of their mother calling: 'Here!

April 23, 2024inveterate

[in-vet-er-it ]

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