Pat On The Back

Pronunciation: /pæt ɒn ðə bæk/

Definitions of pat on the back

noun a gesture of praise or approval

Example Sentences

A1 I gave my friend a pat on the back for doing well in his exam.

A2 She received a pat on the back from her boss for completing the project on time.

B1 The team leader gave a pat on the back to all members for their hard work.

B2 The coach gave the player a pat on the back for scoring the winning goal.

C1 The CEO received a pat on the back from the board of directors for increasing profits.

C2 The scientist was given a pat on the back for discovering a breakthrough in cancer research.

preposition a small, light touch or stroke with the hand on someone's back to show approval or encouragement

Example Sentences

A1 She gave him a pat on the back for finishing his homework.

A2 The coach gave the player a pat on the back after scoring a goal.

B1 The teacher always gives her students a pat on the back for their hard work.

B2 The CEO gave the team a pat on the back for exceeding their sales targets.

C1 The president received a pat on the back from his colleagues for successfully negotiating the deal.

C2 The scientist was given a pat on the back by the scientific community for her groundbreaking research.

Examples of pat on the back in a Sentence

formal The employee received a pat on the back from the manager for completing the project ahead of schedule.

informal I gave my friend a pat on the back for acing the exam.

slang My coach always gives me a pat on the back when I score a goal.

figurative Sometimes we all need a metaphorical pat on the back to boost our confidence.

Grammatical Forms of pat on the back

• past tense: patted on the back
• plural: pats on the back
• comparative: more pats on the back
• superlative: most pats on the back
• present tense: pat on the back
• future tense: will pat on the back
• perfect tense: have patted on the back
• continuous tense: is patting on the back
• singular: pat on the back
• positive degree: very encouraging pat on the back
• infinitive: to pat on the back
• gerund: patting on the back
• participle: patted on the back

Origin and Evolution of pat on the back

First Known Use: 1601 year

Language of Origin: English

Story behind the word: The phrase 'pat on the back' is believed to have originated from the literal act of patting someone on the back as a gesture of praise or encouragement.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the phrase 'pat on the back' has evolved to represent not just a physical gesture of approval, but also a metaphorical expression of recognition or support.