pat
gb/pˈæt/ us/pˈæt/
A2
English
~ 4600
megpaskol, megsimogat, megvereget, paskolás, veregetés, lapogat, lesimít, sablonos, előre gyártott, túl sima, darabka
VERB
A2
1
Usage pattern:
to pat [someone/something]
She patted the dog on the head.
Megpaskolta a kutya fejét.
He patted his friend on the shoulder to comfort him.
Megveregette a barátja vállát, hogy megvigasztalja.
The teacher patted the child’s back for doing a good job.
She patted the baby to help him sleep.
I patted the soil down around the new plant.
Learner examples
I pat my cat when she is happy.
Megsimogatom a macskámat, amikor jókedvű.
He pats the baby softly.
Finoman megpaskolja a kisbabát.
She pats her friend on the back.
They pat the dog every morning.
I pat the table to call my dog.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'pat' with 'pet'; 'pet' often implies stroking an animal, while 'pat' is a series of light taps.
Meaning
Lightly touch with hand
Collocations
pat someone on the back
|pat a dog
|pat gently
|pat dry
|pat down
Synonyms
tap (Implies a quick, light touch, often single rather than repeated.)
|
stroke (Implies a longer, smoother motion rather than short touches.)
Antonyms
hit (A forceful touch, opposite of gentle patting.)
Themes
daily life
|emotions
|relationships
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To touch something softly with your hand, usually to show love or make someone feel good.
To touch someone or something lightly and gently, often repeatedly, with the hand or fingers, usually to show affection or approval.
NOUN
A2
2
Usage pattern:
a pat on [something]
He gave her a reassuring pat on the arm.
Megnyugtatásképpen megpaskolta a karját.
The coach gave the player a pat on the back.
Az edző megveregette a játékos hátát.
She felt a pat on her shoulder.
I gave the cat a quick pat before leaving.
Learner examples
I give my dog a pat.
Megpaskolom a kutyámat.
She gives me a pat on the arm.
Megpaskolja a karomat.
He gives a pat to his child.
The teacher gives me a pat for my work.
Meaning
Gentle touch with hand
Collocations
a pat on the back
|give a pat
|gentle pat
|quick pat
Synonyms
tap (A light touch, but often quicker and less affectionate.)
Antonyms
slap (A hard, often angry touch with the hand.)
Themes
daily life
|emotions
|relationships
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A soft touch with your hand to show love or care.
A gentle light touch made with the hand or fingers, often to show affection, support, or approval.
VERB
B1
3
Usage pattern:
to pat [something] [adjective/shape]
She patted the dough into a round shape.
Kerekre lapogatta a tésztát.
He patted his hair into place before leaving.
Indulás előtt a helyére simította a haját.
Pat the soil down firmly around the roots.
Learner examples
I pat the dough flat.
Laposra lapogatom a tésztát.
She pats her hair into place.
A helyére simítja a haját.
He pats the soil down.
Meaning
Press lightly to shape or flatten
Collocations
pat dough flat
|pat hair into place
|pat soil down
Synonyms
press (General term for applying force; 'pat' is lighter and gentler.)
Antonyms
pound (To hit hard rather than press lightly.)
Themes
cooking
|daily life
|daily_life
|work
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To press something softly to make it flat or smooth.
To press something lightly and repeatedly with the hand or tool in order to shape, smooth, or flatten it.
B2
4
He gave a pat answer to a complex question.
Sablonos választ adott egy összetett kérdésre.
Her response was too pat to be genuine.
A válasza túl sima volt ahhoz, hogy őszintének hasson.
That explanation seems pat and rehearsed.
Learner examples
His answer was too pat.
Túl sima volt a válasza.
She gave a pat reply.
Sablonos választ adott.
The reply was pat and fast.
Meaning
Exactly suitable or apt
Collocations
pat answer
|pat reply
Synonyms
glib (Suggests smooth but insincere speech; 'pat' can have this nuance when describing answers.)
Antonyms
thoughtful (Shows careful consideration, opposite of a quick 'pat' answer.)
Themes
communication
|education
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Easy and quick but not very deep or thoughtful.
Exactly suitable or apt, often too quick or simple to be considered thoughtful.
NOUN
B1
5
darabka
A2
She put a pat of butter on the bread.
Egy darabka vajat tett a kenyérre.
Add a pat of margarine to the pan.
Tegyél egy darabka margarint a serpenyőbe.
Learner examples
I put a pat of butter on my bread.
Egy darabka vajat teszek a kenyeremre.
She adds a pat of butter to the pan.
Egy darabka vajat tesz a serpenyőbe.
Meaning
Small flat portion of food
Collocations
pat of butter
Synonyms
lump (A small piece, not necessarily flat.)
Themes
food
|food_drink
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A small piece of soft food like butter, made flat and round.
A small portion of soft food, such as butter, shaped into a flat mass.
Grammar
Dictionary form
pat
IPA
GB/pˈæt/
US/pˈæt/
Syllables & stress
pat (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (pat)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: pat
Noun
- Base: pat
- Plural: pats
Verb
- Base: pat
- 3rd Person Singular: pats
- Present Participle: patting
- Past: patted
Word family
Forms
pats
noun
patting
verb
patted
verb
Related words
patter
verb
Highlights
- Irregular present participle: patting Verb
- Irregular past: patted Verb
Expressions
a pat on the back
1/ə pˈæt ˈɔn ðə bˈæk/
idiom
Praise or approval gesture
To show that you are happy with someone’s work by saying nice words or touching their back softly.
Examples
- The boss gave her a pat on the back for finishing early.
- You deserve a pat on the back for your hard work.
pat down
1/pˈæt dˈaʊn/
phrasal verb
Search by touching clothes
To search someone by using your hands to feel over their clothes for hidden things.
Examples
- The guard patted him down before letting him in.
- Police officers may pat down suspects for weapons.
pat yourself on the back
1/pˈæt jʊɹsˈɛlf ˈɔn ðə bˈæk/
idiom
informal
Praise yourself for achievement
To feel proud of something you did well and think you deserve praise.
Examples
- You should pat yourself on the back for finishing that project.
- Don’t be afraid to pat yourself on the back when you succeed.