“Pat yourself on the back for a job well done on the difficult test,” the teacher said to her class. During the newborn parenting class, the instructor advised the new parents to pat their baby on the back after a feeding. Pie recipes usually require the baker to pat the crust into the bottom of the pan before adding the filling.

She patted him on the head as she went past. He patted her on the back affectionately. He patted her arm reassuringly. She patted the dog on the head. She patted him lightly on the bottom.