Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Learned or understood perfectly; mastered completely: The phrase "down pat" describes something that has been learned, practiced, or understood so thoroughly that it can be performed or recalled perfectly and without hesitation.

Usage

The phrase "down pat" is used to indicate complete mastery or perfect memorization of a skill, routine, set of facts, or procedure. It is almost always used with the verbs "have" or "get" (e.g., to have something down pat, to get something down pat). It suggests a high level of proficiency and confidence.

Examples

• Adjective:
  • After weeks of rehearsal, she had her lines for the play down pat.
  • He practiced the presentation until he had it down pat.
  • I need to get these formulas down pat before the exam tomorrow.

Advanced Usage

• "to have [something] down pat": To have mastered something completely.
  • The veteran chef has the recipe for the signature dish down pat.
• "to get [something] down pat": To reach a state of having mastered something.
  • It took him a month to get the new software procedures down pat.

Variants and Related Words

• Pat (adv): In a manner that is exactly suitable or apt. (e.g., ) This older adverbial use is the origin of the phrase "down pat," where "pat" means "perfectly" or "exactly."
• Mastered (adj): Learned or understood thoroughly.
• Memorized (adj): Learned by heart.

Synonyms

• Perfectly learned
• Mastered
• Memorized perfectly
• Down cold (informal)
• Nailed down (informal)

Related Phrases

• Know by heart: To have memorized something completely.
  • She knows the poem by heart.
• Have something off pat (chiefly British): A variant with the same meaning as "have something down pat."
  • He had his speech off pat.

Adjective

1. understood perfectly
   • had his algebra problems down