How to Use a pat on the back in a Sentence

a pat on the back

noun phrase

• Trump gave him a pat on the back.
  — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
• If your answer is yes, then give yourself a pat on the back.
  — Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 15 Apr. 2026
• Muniz even sprinted over to him to deliver a pat on the back.
  — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2025
• On the way off the pitch, Gueye pointedly raced over to give him a pat on the back for his efforts.
  — Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
• 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
• 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
• Officials should be under fire instead of being given a pat on the back!
  — U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Sep. 2025
• After Shane finishes his drink, Powell gives him a pat on the back.
  — Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
• 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
• 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
• 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
• So, after hitting his 45th home run of the season, Ohtani, with a huge smile on his face, ran up to the fan and gave him a high five and a pat on the back.
  — Julia Andersen, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2025
• Trump greeted Zelensky outside the West Wing, giving him a handshake and a pat on the back as reporters shouted questions.
  — Brett Samuels, The Hill, 18 Aug. 2025
• Savchenko, meanwhile, made his way backstage to chat to fellow pros Pasha Pashkov and Brandon Armstrong, who gave him a pat on the back after his elimination.
  — Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025