Why do we say 'down pat' for mastery? | | To have something "down pat" means that you are skillful and proficient. But does the "pat" in question refer to a person named Pat, or one of the other definitions of "pat"? Let's get to the bottom of this. | |  | Bennett Kleinman |
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| |  | | T he word "pat" has a wide array of meanings depending on the context. It can be a light physical touch, a small slice of butter, an initialism for Point After Touchdown (the extra point attempt that comes after a touchdown in American football), or a proper noun, the name Pat. But if you "have something down pat," you've mastered that thing and committed it to memory. Let's look at the origins of "down pat" and explore its enduring popularity in the English language.
To better understand the phrase, we need to break down its individual components. According to Merriam-Webster, one definition of "down" as an adjective is "completely mastered." This usage stands without the word being followed by "pat." |
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Emoji Decoded | |  | | DNA Double Helix | | | Meaning: Represents the double helix structure of DNA, the molecule that carries genetic information.
Evolution: When it was added in 2018, this emoji joined other science-themed emojis, including Microscope 🔬 and Alembic ⚗️, to communicate about genetics and biological sciences. In casual usage, 🧬 has become shorthand for expressing core traits, inherited behaviors, or deep-rooted habits.
Usage: [Comment on friend's post:] Being late is literally in your 🧬 at this point 😂 |
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| | DNA Double Helix | | | Meaning: Represents the double helix structure of DNA, the molecule that carries genetic information.
Evolution: When it was added in 2018, this emoji joined other science-themed emojis, including Microscope 🔬 and Alembic ⚗️, to communicate about genetics and biological sciences. In casual usage, 🧬 has become shorthand for expressing core traits, inherited behaviors, or deep-rooted habits.
Usage: [Comment on friend's post:] Being late is literally in your 🧬 at this point 😂 |
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Have you read? | |  | | Destiny of the Republic | | | | What do you know about James A. Garfield, the 20th U.S. president? This deeply researched book paints a fascinating portrait as it details his unlikely rise to the presidency. It's nonfiction, but it reads like a political thriller, and the 2011 book is now the basis for the Netflix series "Death by Lightning." The book also introduces another lesser-known president, Garfield's vice president, Chester A. Arthur, as well as Charles Guiteau, the man who shot Garfield just months after his presidency began. | | | | | | | | We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. |
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| | Destiny of the Republic | | | | What do you know about James A. Garfield, the 20th U.S. president? This deeply researched book paints a fascinating portrait as it details his unlikely rise to the presidency. It's nonfiction, but it reads like a political thriller, and the 2011 book is now the basis for the Netflix series "Death by Lightning." The book also introduces another lesser-known president, Garfield's vice president, Chester A. Arthur, as well as Charles Guiteau, the man who shot Garfield just months after his presidency began. | | | | | | | | We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. |
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