pat2
- exactly to the point or purpose; apt; opportune: a pat solution to a problem.
- excessively glib; unconvincingly facile: His answers were too pat to suit the examining board.
- learned, known, or mastered perfectly or exactly: to have something pat.
- exactly or perfectly.
- aptly; opportunely.
- down pat, mastered or learned perfectly: If you're an actor, you have to get your lines down pat.Also down cold.
- stand pat,
- to cling or hold firm to one's decision, policy, or beliefs: The government must stand pat in its policy.
- Poker.to play a hand as dealt, without drawing other cards.
Origin of pat2
stand pat
- poker to refuse the right to change any of one's cards; keep one's hand unchanged
- to resist change or remain unchanged
pat1
- to hit (something) lightly with the palm of the hand or some other flat surfaceto pat a ball
- to slap (a person or animal) gently, esp on the back, as an expression of affection, congratulation, etc
- (tr) to shape, smooth, etc, with a flat instrument or the palm
- (intr) to walk or run with light footsteps
- pat someone on the back informal to congratulate or encourage someone
- a light blow with something flat
- a gentle slap
- a small mass of somethinga pat of butter
- the sound made by a light stroke or light footsteps
- pat on the back informal a gesture or word indicating approval or encouragement
Word Origin
pat2
- Also: off pat exactly or fluently memorized or masteredhe recited it pat
- opportunely or aptly
- stand pat
- mainly US and Canadianto refuse to abandon a belief, decision, etc
- (in poker, etc) to play without adding new cards to the hand dealt
- exactly right for the occasion; apta pat reply
- too exactly fitting; gliba pat answer to a difficult problem
- exactly righta pat hand in poker
Word Origin
pat3
- on one's pat Australian informal alone; on one's own
Word Origin
Pat
- an informal name for an Irishman
Word Origin
Word Origin and History for stand pat
pat
n.
c.1400, "a blow, stroke," perhaps originally imitative of the sound of patting. Meaning "light tap with hand" is from c.1804. Sense of "that which is formed by patting" (as in pat of butter) is 1754, probably from the verb. Pat on the back in the figurative sense attested by 1804.
pat
adv.
"aptly, suitably, at the right time," 1570s, perhaps from pat (adj.) in sense of "that which hits the mark," a special use from pat (n.) in sense of "a hitting" of the mark. The modern adjective is 1630s, from the adverb.
pat
v.
1560s, "to hit, throw;" meaning "to tap or strike lightly" is from 1714; from pat (n.). Related: Patted; patting. The nursery rhyme phrase pat-a-cake is known from 1823. Alternative patty-cake (usually American English) is attested from 1794 (in "Mother Goose's Melody, or Sonnets for the Cradle," Worcester, Mass.).
Pat
Idioms and Phrases with stand pat
stand pat
Refuse to change one's position or opinion, as in We're going to stand pat on this amendment to the bylaws. This expression may be derived from the verb pat in the sense of “strike firmly and accurately.” [Late 1800s]
pat
In addition to the idiom beginning with pat
- pat on the back
also see:
- stand pat