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down pat

 
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Chan-Seung Lee



Joined: 03 Dec 2005
Posts: 1032
PostPosted: Wed Mar 14, 2007 7:56 am    Post subject: down pat Reply with quote
Quote:
She's got it well down pat.


Could you tell me the meaning of the above sentence giving some examples in which it is used?

Thanks.
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+Immune+



Joined: 06 Jan 2006
Posts: 83
Location: Warsaw/Poland
PostPosted: Wed Mar 14, 2007 8:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Quote:
She's got it well down pat.


have/know sth down pat (uk have/know sth off pat)
to know something so well that you can say or do it without having to try or think - thoroughly learned:

I'd given the talk so many times I had it down pat.
He had all his answers off pat.
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"Understand that hapiness is not based on possesions, power or prestige, but on relationships with people you love and respect"

Well, um.. "Never open the refrigerator when you're bored" Smile
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Chan-Seung Lee



Joined: 03 Dec 2005
Posts: 1032
PostPosted: Wed Mar 14, 2007 6:27 pm    Post subject: question Reply with quote
Quote:
I'd given the talk so many times I had it down pat.


Thanks for your kind reply.

I have one question about the quote in which you gave me an example.
I wonder if the above quote is typo. Isn't it right that 'I was given the talk so many times I had it down pat.' instead of the quote?
Please let me know.

Thanks.
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Lorikeet



Joined: 08 Oct 2005
Posts: 1877
Location: San Francisco
PostPosted: Wed Mar 14, 2007 7:16 pm    Post subject: Re: question Reply with quote
Chan-Seung Lee wrote:
Quote:
I'd given the talk so many times I had it down pat.


Thanks for your kind reply.

I have one question about the quote in which you gave me an example.
I wonder if the above quote is typo. Isn't it right that 'I was given the talk so many times I had it down pat.' instead of the quote?
Please let me know.

Thanks.


The quote was correct. It said, "I had given the talk so many times, I had it down pat." That means I gave the talk over and over again. I talked about the same subject, and used the same ideas. That's why I had it down pat and didn't have to work hard to do it again.

If you say, "I was given the talk," it's a passive construction, and means someone else gave the talk to you. It doesn't fit this idea at all.
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