# pat on the back

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/pat-on-the-back
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Praise, congratulations.

## Examples

- She gave him a pat on the back for his hard work.
- The manager stopped by everyone's desk to give a pat on the back after the project finished early.
- In a rare moment of warmth, the stern professor offered a quiet pat on the back to the student who had struggled most.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.