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
Bush was also notably chummy with his successor, offering Obama a belly tap while heading to his pew at the National Cathedral and receiving a pat on the back in return.
—
Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 10 Jan. 2025
The objective here is to take a hard look at the reality of your business, not simply to give yourself a pat on the back.
—Allbusiness, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024
Increase brand awareness Everybody loves a good news story, and business awards are more than just a pat on the back for a job well done.
—Fiona Simpson, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024
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
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Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 10 Jan. 2025
The objective here is to take a hard look at the reality of your business, not simply to give yourself a pat on the back.
—Allbusiness, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024
Increase brand awareness Everybody loves a good news story, and business awards are more than just a pat on the back for a job well done.
—Fiona Simpson, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024
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
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 23 Jan. 2025.
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