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
Ahead of opening arguments, Rinderknecht smoothed back his hair, and Haney helped adjust his tie before giving him a pat on the back.
—
Brittny Mejia,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
If your answer is yes, then give yourself a pat on the back.
—
Elizabeth Robinson,
NBC news,
15 Apr. 2026
If your bracket survived even half of those, give yourself a pat on the back — and maybe buy a lottery ticket.
—
Ryan Brennan
march 20,
Miami Herald,
20 Mar. 2026
Whether that's a pat on the back, whether that's a kick in the rear, a different tone, a different message, whatever that might be.
—
Matt Zahn,
CBS News,
17 Feb. 2026
If the Games have yet to overtake Italy’s fashionable economic hub, then the International Olympic Committee is likely giving itself a pat on the back for achieving one of its goals for these Winter Games.
—
Jacob Turcotte,
Christian Science Monitor,
5 Feb. 2026
There is no room for Boy Scouts or glad-handers or sensitive souls who expect justice, fairness or a pat on the back for a job well done.
—
John Nogowski,
Hartford Courant,
28 Jan. 2026
What was wrong, many asked, with a reporter being a person for once — a human being — and reaching out to someone who was hurting and needed a pat on the back?
—
David Aldridge,
New York Times,
14 Jan. 2026
If your race didn’t go as you’d hoped or planned, giving yourself a pat on the back might not come as naturally.
—
Cindy Kuzma,
SELF,
29 Oct. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Brittny Mejia,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
If your answer is yes, then give yourself a pat on the back.
—
Elizabeth Robinson,
NBC news,
15 Apr. 2026
If your bracket survived even half of those, give yourself a pat on the back — and maybe buy a lottery ticket.
—
Ryan Brennan
march 20,
Miami Herald,
20 Mar. 2026
Whether that's a pat on the back, whether that's a kick in the rear, a different tone, a different message, whatever that might be.
—
Matt Zahn,
CBS News,
17 Feb. 2026
If the Games have yet to overtake Italy’s fashionable economic hub, then the International Olympic Committee is likely giving itself a pat on the back for achieving one of its goals for these Winter Games.
—
Jacob Turcotte,
Christian Science Monitor,
5 Feb. 2026
There is no room for Boy Scouts or glad-handers or sensitive souls who expect justice, fairness or a pat on the back for a job well done.
—
John Nogowski,
Hartford Courant,
28 Jan. 2026
What was wrong, many asked, with a reporter being a person for once — a human being — and reaching out to someone who was hurting and needed a pat on the back?
—
David Aldridge,
New York Times,
14 Jan. 2026
If your race didn’t go as you’d hoped or planned, giving yourself a pat on the back might not come as naturally.
—
Cindy Kuzma,
SELF,
29 Oct. 2025
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 Jul. 2026.
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