a pat on the back
noun phrase
informal
: a show of praise or approval
You all deserve a pat on the back for making this possible.
You did a great job, so give yourself a pat on the back.
Examples of a pat on the back in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Everyone enjoys a pat on the back for a job well done.
—
Jason Leverant, Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024
The point of it is people watch it, the point of it is not to get a pat on the back.
—Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Sep. 2024
Excited by just about everything, BA is ready to prove himself to The Colonel, and to anyone else who will give him a pat on the back.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2024
John Henry may not have shown the kind of ambition Red Sox fans would have liked to have seen, but whoever’s responsible for this team’s success deserves a pat on the back.
—Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 7 Aug. 2024
She was given a pat on the back by all of us at Virgin Australia.
—Kaitlin Menza, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Apr. 2024
And then to have my kids give me a pat on the back and say, ‘Yes, this does feel authentic,’ was similarly wonderful.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, Peoplemag, 27 Mar. 2024
Follow the steps below, then give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done.
—Kim Komando, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2024
Stefanovic came over to console him with a pat on the back going into a timeout.
—Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2024
Jason Leverant, Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024
The point of it is people watch it, the point of it is not to get a pat on the back.
—Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Sep. 2024
Excited by just about everything, BA is ready to prove himself to The Colonel, and to anyone else who will give him a pat on the back.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2024
John Henry may not have shown the kind of ambition Red Sox fans would have liked to have seen, but whoever’s responsible for this team’s success deserves a pat on the back.
—Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 7 Aug. 2024
She was given a pat on the back by all of us at Virgin Australia.
—Kaitlin Menza, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Apr. 2024
And then to have my kids give me a pat on the back and say, ‘Yes, this does feel authentic,’ was similarly wonderful.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, Peoplemag, 27 Mar. 2024
Follow the steps below, then give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done.
—Kim Komando, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2024
Stefanovic came over to console him with a pat on the back going into a timeout.
—Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'a pat on the back.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near a pat on the back
Cite this Entry
“A pat on the back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20pat%20on%20the%20back. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
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