pat2

[pat] /pæt/
adjective
1.
exactly to the point or purpose; apt; opportune:
a pat solution to a problem.
2.
excessively glib; unconvincingly facile:
His answers were too pat to suit the examining board.
3.
learned, known, or mastered perfectly or exactly:
to have something pat.
adverb
4.
exactly or perfectly.
5.
aptly; opportunely.
Idioms
6.
down pat, mastered or learned perfectly:
If you're an actor, you have to get your lines down pat.
Also, down cold.
7.
stand pat,
  1. to cling or hold firm to one's decision, policy, or beliefs:
    The government must stand pat in its policy.
  2. Poker. to play a hand as dealt, without drawing other cards.
Origin
1570-80; orig. adverbial use of pat1, as obsolete to hit pat to strike accurately
Related forms
patness, noun
patter, noun
British Dictionary definitions for stand pat

stand pat

verb (intransitive)
1.
(poker) to refuse the right to change any of one's cards; keep one's hand unchanged
2.
to resist change or remain unchanged
Derived Forms
standpatter, noun

pat1

/pæt/
verb pats, patting, patted
1.
to hit (something) lightly with the palm of the hand or some other flat surface: to pat a ball
2.
to slap (a person or animal) gently, esp on the back, as an expression of affection, congratulation, etc
3.
(transitive) to shape, smooth, etc, with a flat instrument or the palm
4.
(intransitive) to walk or run with light footsteps
5.
(informal) pat someone on the back, to congratulate or encourage someone
noun
6.
a light blow with something flat
7.
a gentle slap
8.
a small mass of something: a pat of butter
9.
the sound made by a light stroke or light footsteps
10.
(informal) pat on the back, a gesture or word indicating approval or encouragement
Word Origin
C14: perhaps imitative

pat2

/pæt/
adverb
1.
Also off pat. exactly or fluently memorized or mastered: he recited it pat
2.
opportunely or aptly
3.
stand pat
  1. (mainly US & Canadian) to refuse to abandon a belief, decision, etc
  2. (in poker, etc) to play without adding new cards to the hand dealt
adjective
4.
exactly right for the occasion; apt: a pat reply
5.
too exactly fitting; glib: a pat answer to a difficult problem
6.
exactly right: a pat hand in poker
Word Origin
C17: perhaps adverbial use (``with a light stroke'') of pat1

pat3

/pæt/
noun
1.
(Austral, informal) on one's pat, alone; on one's own
Word Origin
C20: rhyming slang, from Pat Malone

Pat

/pæt/
noun
1.
an informal name for an Irishman
Word Origin
from Patrick
Word Origin and History for stand pat

pat

n.

c.1400, "a blow, stroke," perhaps originally imitative of the sound of patting. Meaning "light tap with hand" is from c.1804. Sense of "that which is formed by patting" (as in pat of butter) is 1754, probably from the verb. Pat on the back in the figurative sense attested by 1804.

adv.

"aptly, suitably, at the right time," 1570s, perhaps from pat (adj.) in sense of "that which hits the mark," a special use from pat (n.) in sense of "a hitting" of the mark. The modern adjective is 1630s, from the adverb.

v.

1560s, "to hit, throw;" meaning "to tap or strike lightly" is from 1714; from pat (n.). Related: Patted; patting. The nursery rhyme phrase pat-a-cake is known from 1823. Alternative patty-cake (usually American English) is attested from 1794 (in "Mother Goose's Melody, or Sonnets for the Cradle," Worcester, Mass.).

Pat

as a fem. proper name, short for Patricia. As a masc. proper name, short for Patrick; hence a nickname for any Irishman.

Slang definitions & phrases for stand pat

stand pat

verb phrase
  1. To keep one's original five cards in draw poker, without drawing new ones (1882+ Poker)
  2. To retain one's position; refuse to shift; carry on as one is; sit tight: The President stood pat on his decision to cut taxes (1890+)

[fr the adverb pat, ''exactly, precisely to the purpose'']


Related Abbreviations for stand pat

PAT

point after touchdown
Idioms and Phrases with stand pat

stand pat

Refuse to change one's position or opinion, as in We're going to stand pat on this amendment to the bylaws. This expression may be derived from the verb pat in the sense of “strike firmly and accurately.” [ Late 1800s ]

pat

In addition to the idiom beginning with pat also see: stand pat