What is "stand pat" ?

[fl]

Hi,
What is the meaning of "stand pat" in the following sentence? I don't
know even after I check dictionary. Thanks.

You've been acquisitive in recent years. Will you stand pat for now?

We will continue to acquire some when we need new skills and
capabilities in certain markets. But I would say the major building
blocks are in place.

[Ray O'Hara]

"fl" <rxj...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:f2d53d3f-e2a3-476c...@d2g2000yqa.googlegroups.com...

It means to stay with what you have.
To not aquire more.

[Marius Hancu]

On Mar 17, 9:11 am, "Ray O'Hara" <raymond-oh...@hotmail.com> wrote:

> > What is the meaning of "stand pat" in the following sentence? I don't
> > know even after I check dictionary. Thanks.
>
> > You've been acquisitive in recent years. Will you stand pat for now?
>
> > We will continue to acquire some when we need new skills and
> > capabilities in certain markets. But I would say the major building
> > blocks are in place.
>
> It means to stay with what you have.
> To not aquire more.

This dictionary entry might help the OP:
---
pat

Function: adjective

3 : FIRM, UNYIELDING -- usually used in the phrase "to stand pat" <a
major issue on which it has stood pat since the matter first arose --
Sydney (Australia) Bulletin>

M-W Unabridged
---

Marius Hancu

[Nick Spalding]

fl wrote, in
<f2d53d3f-e2a3-476c...@d2g2000yqa.googlegroups.com>
on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 06:05:23 -0700 (PDT):

It means to not acquire any more. It comes from poker playing where to
stand pat means not to take any additional cards.
--
Nick Spalding
BrE/IrE

[Jerry Friedman]

Hm. The image for me is more of complacency than firmness.

--
Jerry Friedman

[John Dean]

Lewis wrote:
> In message <hnqkep$a3r$1...@news.eternal-september.org>

> It's from Poker, innit? Or at least cards?

Poker borrowed it.
Cites from OED:

1. adv. In a way that hits, and does not miss its object or aim; in a
manner that fits or agrees to a nicety with the purpose or occasion; so as
exactly to suit the purpose; appositely, aptly; in the very nick of time,
opportunely; so as to be ready for any occasion, readily, promptly.
1578 Whetstone 1st Pt. Promos & Cass. iv. vi, I chaunst to light on one,
Hyt me as pat as a pudding Pope Ione. 1580 Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 296 When I
heard my Physition so pat to hit my disease. 1581 Confl. Consc. ii. iii. in
Hazl. Dodsley VI. 62, I will pay them home pat. 1589 Nashe Almond for
Parrat 6b, Haue not I hit your meaning patte in this comparison? 1592
Greene Art Conny Catch. iii. Wks. (Grosart) X. 151 Seeing things fadge so
pat to his purpose. 1596 Nashe Saffron-Walden Wks. (Grosart) III. 52 If
they will hit the nayle on the head pat. 1602 Shakes. Ham. iii. iii. 74 Now
I might do it pat, now he is praying. 1639 Fuller Holy War iv. xxi. (1840)
218 An unhappy nation whose heads lie pat for every one's hands to hit.
1658 W. Burton Itin. Anton. 176 Camden+ seems+to have lighted pat upon the
place. 1665-6 Pepys Diary 20 Feb., I came just pat to be a godfather. 1733
Swift On Poetry 61 And here a simile comes pat in. 1882 Mrs. J. H. Riddell
Pr. Wales's Garden-Party 259 He+had the whole story pat enough.

2. predicatively: as adv. or adj. (as in 1 or 3).
1638 Wilkins New World v. (1707) 41 Whose Words are more pat to the
purpose. 1656 Sanderson Serm. (1689) 80 A passage+very pat to his purpose.
1710 in Hearne Collect. 7 Mar. (O.H.S.) II. 355 A Mitre may be pat to his
Mind. 1820 W. Irving Sketch Bk. II. 124 To tell a rather broad story out of
Joe Miller, that was pat to the purpose. 1903 Sat. Rev. 17 Oct. 482 He has
pat+the denunciations of sacerdotalism with which the same deputed ones will
attack the Church of England.

3. attrib. or as adj. That comes or lies exactly to the purpose; exactly
suitable or to the purpose, apposite, apt; ready or suitable for the
occasion, opportune. (Said esp. of things spoken.)
1646 J. Hall Poems, To young Authour, With phansies queint and gay
expressions pat. 1648 'Mercurius Pragmaticus' Plea for King 3 Having a pat
occasion offered them. a1677 Barrow Wks. (1687) I. Serm. xiv. 195 Sometimes
it [facetiousness] lieth in pat allusion to a known story. 1698 Fryer Acc.
E. India & P. 47 Concerning+these Winds, perhaps some others may give patter
Guesses than my self. 1788 Cowper Pity for Africans 18 A story so pat, you
may think it is coined. 1852 Thackeray Esmond iii. ii, Backing his opinion
with a score of pat sentences from Greek and Roman authorities.

b. pat hand (in the game of Poker): see quot. 1889.
c1868 How Gamblers Win 51 When quick work is to be made with a victim,
'pat hands', in other words, hands which fall complete,+are given out. 1889
Farmer Americanisms, Pat Hand (in poker), an original hand not likely to be
improved by drawing, such as full, straight, flush, or pairs. 1903
Architect 24 Apr., Suppl. 28/2 Anybody's liable to play a pat hand too
strong.

And leave us not forget St James Infirmary:

Now, when I die, bury me in my straight-leg britches,
Put on a box-back coat and a stetson hat,
Put a twenty-dollar gold piece on my watch chain,
So you can let all the boys know I died standing pat.

--
John Dean
Oxford

[R H Draney]

John Dean filted:

>
>Lewis wrote:
>> In message <hnqkep$a3r$1...@news.eternal-september.org>
>> Ray <raymon...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> "fl" <rxj...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>> news:f2d53d3f-e2a3-476c...@d2g2000yqa.googlegroups.com...
>>>> Hi,
>>>> What is the meaning of "stand pat" in the following sentence? I
>>>> don't know even after I check dictionary. Thanks.
>>>>
>>>> You've been acquisitive in recent years. Will you stand pat for now?
>>

>>> It means to stay with what you have.
>>> To not aquire more.
>>
>> It's from Poker, innit? Or at least cards?
>
>Poker borrowed it.
>

>And leave us not forget St James Infirmary:
>
>Now, when I die, bury me in my straight-leg britches,
>Put on a box-back coat and a stetson hat,
>Put a twenty-dollar gold piece on my watch chain,
>So you can let all the boys know I died standing pat.

Old newspaper headline: "Ike Says Nixon Can't Stand Pat"....r

--
"Oy! A cat made of lead cannot fly."
- Mark Brader declaims a basic scientific principle

[Eric Walker]

On Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:07:44 -0700, Jerry Friedman wrote:

[...]

>> Function: adjective
>>
>> 3 : FIRM, UNYIELDING -- usually used in the phrase "to stand pat" <a
>> major issue on which it has stood pat since the matter first arose --
>> Sydney (Australia) Bulletin>
>>
>> M-W  Unabridged
>
> Hm. The image for me is more of complacency than firmness.

Quite so. But then, he did use a MW product . . . .

--
Cordially,
Eric Walker, Owlcroft House
http://owlcroft.com/english/

[Jeffrey Turner]

Eric Walker wrote:
> On Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:07:44 -0700, Jerry Friedman wrote:
>
> [...]
>
>>> Function: adjective
>>>
>>> 3 : FIRM, UNYIELDING -- usually used in the phrase "to stand pat" <a
>>> major issue on which it has stood pat since the matter first arose --
>>> Sydney (Australia) Bulletin>
>>>
>>> M-W Unabridged
>> Hm. The image for me is more of complacency than firmness.
>
> Quite so. But then, he did use a MW product . . . .

Au contraire. To me it's a definite decision. Complacency could be
standing still.

--Jeff

--
Love consists of overestimating
the differences between one woman
and another. --George Bernard Shaw

[Jerry Friedman]

On Mar 18, 11:45 pm, Jeffrey Turner <jtur...@localnet.com> wrote:
> Eric Walker wrote:
> > On Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:07:44 -0700, Jerry Friedman wrote:
>
> > [...]
>
> >>> Function: adjective
>
> >>> 3 : FIRM, UNYIELDING -- usually used in the phrase "to stand pat" <a

> >>> major issue on which it has stood patsince the matter first arose --

> >>> Sydney (Australia) Bulletin>
>
> >>> M-W  Unabridged
> >> Hm.  The image for me is more of complacency than firmness.
>
> > Quite so.  But then, he did use a MW product . . . .
>
> Au contraire.  To me it's a definite decision.  Complacency could be
> standing still.

I don't understand that last sentence.

--
Jerry Friedman

[Jeffrey Turner]

If you're complacent you could be described as "standing still." But
"standing pat" is not something you sort of fall into.

[Jerry Friedman]

On Mar 29, 9:34 pm, Jeffrey Turner <jtur...@localnet.com> wrote:
> On 3/19/2010 1:48 PM, Jerry Friedman wrote:
>
>
>
> > On Mar 18, 11:45 pm, Jeffrey Turner<jtur...@localnet.com>  wrote:
> >> Eric Walker wrote:
> >>> On Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:07:44 -0700, Jerry Friedman wrote:
>
> >>> [...]
>
> >>>>> Function: adjective
>
> >>>>> 3 : FIRM, UNYIELDING -- usually used in the phrase "to stand pat"<a
> >>>>> major issue on which it has stood patsince the matter first arose --
> >>>>> Sydney (Australia) Bulletin>
>
> >>>>> M-W  Unabridged
> >>>> Hm.  The image for me is more of complacency than firmness.
>
> >>> Quite so.  But then, he did use a MW product . . . .
>
> >> Au contraire.  To me it's a definite decision.  Complacency could be
> >> standing still.
>
> > I don't understand that last sentence.
>
> If you're complacent you could be described as "standing still."

Okay.

>  But "standing pat" is not something you sort of fall into.

Seems to me it is. You get dealt a straight or something and you
stand pat. It doesn't take any willpower.

Maybe the difference between your understanding and mine is how much
the etymology is involved. And as poker seems to be becoming
synonymous with "hold 'em", the etymology may be headed for the word-
history books, if it isn't there already.

--
Jerry Friedman

[shanejo...@gmail.com]

Wow... there are a lot of in-depth "book" answers, but it really is simple in the context of a gambling blues man (speaking from experience). It means to play the hand you are dealt. But when do you stand pat? Easy... when you are dealt a good hand. If you die "standing pat" It means you played the cards you were given and you would not have changed a thing.

[Peter Moylan]

[posted and mailed]

Your response suggests that you, unlike most drive-by posters, actually
read the nine-year-old thread in this newsgroup. But several of the
respondents - some of whom are still active in the newsgroup after all
this time - already mentioned the poker connection. Are you suggesting
something different?

By the way, since this is alt.usage.english, I noticed that nobody back
in 2010 could explain why the word "pat" is used in this expression.

--
Peter Moylan http://www.pmoylan.org
Newcastle, NSW, Australia

[snide...@gmail.com]

Just to muddy the waters,
I'll note that in a /different/ table game, blackjack,
it is common to signal the dealer that you want another card
by _tapping_ the table.
I don't think that explains the poker usage.

/dps

[Jerry Friedman]

On 6/21/19 1:06 PM, snide...@gmail.com wrote:
> On Friday, June 21, 2019 at 10:09:14 AM UTC-7, Peter Moylan wrote:

[Stand, Pat!]

>> By the way, since this is alt.usage.english, I noticed that nobody back
>> in 2010 could explain why the word "pat" is used in this expression.
>
> Just to muddy the waters,
> I'll note that in a /different/ table game, blackjack,
> it is common to signal the dealer that you want another card
> by _tapping_ the table.
> I don't think that explains the poker usage.

I'm jonesing (malías, as they say around here) for the OED again, but
the AHD includes, under "pat" means "suitable, appropriate", the sense
"Being a poker hand that is strong enough to make drawing cards unlikely
to improve it." So maybe "stand pat" comes from "pat hand", which seems
to be the expression the dictionary is groping for.

--
Jerry Friedman

[Peter Duncanson [BrE]]

OED:
In the entry for stand, c.

14. Chiefly U.S. to stand pat v.
(a) [Compare 13 and pat hand n. at pat adv.1 and adj. Special
uses.] In Poker, to play, or declare one's intention of playing,
one's hand just as it has been dealt, without drawing other cards.
(b) transf. To adhere to an existing state of things or to an avowed
policy (esp. a high tariff), refusing to consider proposals for
change or reform. Hence stand-pat n. and adj., stand-patter n.,
stand-pattism n.

and:

pat, adv.1 and adj.

pat hand n. Poker a hand which is of sufficient value to play as it
is dealt, without needing to draw from the pack; also figurative
(chiefly U.S.).

--
Peter Duncanson, UK
(in alt.usage.english)

[Jack]

AHD also mentions 'down pat' in the sense of a something thoroughly
learned; M-W shows 'pat' meanng 'aptly, perfectly'.

So, 'pat' overlaps with two of its anagrams - 'tap' and 'apt'.

--
John

[Jerry Friedman]

Thanks. I assume "pat, adv.1 and adj." is the one that means "appropriate".

--
Jerry Friedman

[Peter Duncanson [BrE]]

On Sat, 22 Jun 2019 07:13:13 -0600, Jerry Friedman

Yes.

A. adv.1 Usually as complement of the verb.
1. In a manner that exactly fits the purpose or occasion;
appositely, opportunely, readily, promptly.
to stand pat: see stand v. 14.
2. to have (a story, routine, etc.) (off, down) pat: to be able to
recite or perform readily and faultlessly from memory; (also,
depreciatively) to repeat glibly, to parrot.
B. adj.
1.
a. In predicative use: exactly suitable or fitting to a purpose,
person, etc. Now rare (in later use chiefly Irish English).
b. attributive. Apt, apposite; ready or suitable for the occasion;
opportune.
2. Esp. of words: prompt, well-rehearsed or memorized. Hence: (with
negative connotation) glib, facile, unconsidered. rare before 20th
cent. (now the dominant sense).

[CDB]

On 6/22/2019 9:13 AM, Jerry Friedman wrote:
> Peter Duncanson [BrE] wrote:
>> Jerry Friedman <jerry_f...@yahoo.com> wrote:

If you consider that along with "stand pat" and "a pat expression", it
might be something approaching "unchanged" or "not to be changed". You
slap it down on the table, and no do-overs.

[RH Draney]

On 6/22/2019 9:29 PM, CDB wrote:
>>> Jerry Friedman <jerry_f...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>

>>>> [Stand, Pat!]

>
> If you consider that along with "stand pat" and "a pat expression", it
> might be something approaching "unchanged" or "not to be changed".  You
> slap it down on the table, and no do-overs.

And then there's the headline that came out back in the '50s:

[CDB]

Dear Mrs Nixon swung by my school in Port-au-Prince in the mid-fifties.
It was a largely-American school, and parents vote. I disremember if I
got to shake her hand.

It was too warm for a coat, so we can only speculate.

[Athel Cornish-Bowden]

My oldest daughter met Mrs Thatcher once (on a similar occasion, I
think). I don't remember either if she got to shake her hand.

My former stepmother-in-law looked very similar to Mrs Reagan, and
lived in Capistrano Beach when the "Western White House" was at San
Clemente -- very close to Capistrano Beach. "Former", not "Late", and
she will be 100 next year. Nancy Reagan only managed 94.

> It was too warm for a coat, so we can only speculate.

--
athel

[CDB]

On 6/23/2019 9:21 AM, Athel Cornish-Bowden wrote:
> CDB said:

>> RH Draney wrote:
>>> CDB wrote:
>>>>>> Jerry Friedman <jerry_f...@yahoo.com> wrote:

>>>>>>> [Stand, Pat!]

>>>> If you consider that along with "stand pat" and "a pat
>>>> expression", it might be something approaching "unchanged" or
>>>> "not to be changed". You slap it down on the table, and no
>>>> do-overs.

>>> And then there's the headline that came out back in the '50s:

>>> Ike Says Nixon Can't Stand Pat

>> Dear Mrs Nixon swung by my school in Port-au-Prince in the
>> mid-fifties. It was a largely-American school, and parents vote.
>> I disremember if I got to shake her hand.

> My oldest daughter met Mrs Thatcher once (on a similar occasion, I
> think). I don't remember either if she got to shake her hand.

> My former stepmother-in-law looked very similar to Mrs Reagan, and
> lived in Capistrano Beach when the "Western White House" was at San
> Clemente -- very close to Capistrano Beach. "Former", not "Late",
> and she will be 100 next year. Nancy Reagan only managed 94.

Divine punishment for all those fur coats. She was quite exploded.

>> It was too warm for a coat, so we can only speculate.

To shorn lamb God sends wind in full measure.

[Peter Moylan]

On 23/06/19 23:21, Athel Cornish-Bowden wrote:
> On 2019-06-23 11:16:42 +0000, CDB said:

>> Dear Mrs Nixon swung by my school in Port-au-Prince in the
>> mid-fifties. It was a largely-American school, and parents vote. I
>> disremember if I got to shake her hand.
>
> My oldest daughter met Mrs Thatcher once (on a similar occasion, I
> think). I don't remember either if she got to shake her hand.

In 1954, approximately, ERII passed through our town. Half the town
stood on the railway embankment to watch the train go past. Her Majesty
had the shades closed.

Princess Alexandra turned up a few years later. Our school class had to
line up on the railway tracks at the station. In that case the train
stopped. I don't remember anything about her, though.

Many years later, a friend of mine insisted that we had to see the visit
of Lidy Di. Her car passed so close I could almost have touched her. Big
Deal!

[charles]

In article <upr1he5ltre4vkiom...@4ax.com>, Mr. Marmite
<mr__m...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> On Mon, 24 Jun 2019 04:38:17 +1000, Peter Moylan
> <pe...@pmoylan.org.invalid> wrote:

> [snip]

> >In 1954, approximately, ERII passed through our town. Half the town
> >stood on the railway embankment to watch the train go past. Her Majesty
> >had the shades closed.
> >

> She obviously hasn't changed much then, as the only time I've come across
> her was when she was meeting a visiting Head Of State on his/her arrival
> at Victoria Station in the early 1970s. I still remember her snarl of
> rage and words of admonishment, which I admit I wasn't close enough to
> hear, to the unfortunate young cavalryman whose horse shied close to her
> carriage. Maybe she's become a trifle mellower in her old age. Me as
> well, I suppose; I'm not quite the Republican I was years ago!

as a rider herself, she was probably outraged and showed it. After all, for
many years she was mounted for Trooping the Colour.

--
from KT24 in Surrey, England
"I'd rather die of exhaustion than die of boredom" Thomas Carlyle

[CDB]

On 6/25/2019 8:59 AM, Mr. Marmite wrote:
> charles <cha...@candehope.me.uk> wrote:

>> Mr. Marmite <mr__m...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>> Peter Moylan
<pe...@pmoylan.org.invalid> wrote:

>>> [snip]

>>>> In 1954, approximately, ERII passed through our town. Half the
>>>> town stood on the railway embankment to watch the train go
>>>> past. Her Majesty had the shades closed.>>>>
>>> She obviously hasn't changed much then, as the only time I've
>>> come across her was when she was meeting a visiting Head Of State
>>> on his/her arrival at Victoria Station in the early 1970s. I
>>> still remember her snarl of rage and words of admonishment, which
>>> I admit I wasn't close enough to hear, to the unfortunate young
>>> cavalryman whose horse shied close to her carriage. Maybe she's
>>> become a trifle mellower in her old age. Me as well, I suppose;
>>> I'm not quite the Republican I was years ago!

>> as a rider herself, she was probably outraged and showed it. After
>> all, for many years she was mounted for Trooping the Colour.

> True enough, but it was the venom displayed that really got my goat.

Why did the horse shy? If its rider had done something to hurt it, that
might account for the venom.

[Katy Jennison]

Yes, I was wondering that. Her concern was likely to have been for the
horse.

--
Katy Jennison

[Bob Martin]

On 25 Jun 2019 at 12:59:24, Mr. Marmite <mr__m...@hotmail.com> wrote:

> True enough, but it was the venom displayed that really got my goat.

It was revealed recently that HM suffers from travel sickness when riding in
carriages, and it's noticeable that she rarely looks happy when doing so.

[Quinn C]

* Mr. Marmite:

> On Mon, 24 Jun 2019 18:52:21 +0100, charles <cha...@candehope.me.uk>
> wrote:
>

> True enough, but it was the venom displayed that really got my goat.

Thanks, now I know the venom of choice if I ever have to get rid of
some goats.

--
- It's the title search for the Rachel property.
Guess who owns it?
- Tell me it's not that bastard Donald Trump.
-- Gilmore Girls, S02E08 (2001)

[CDB]

On 6/26/2019 5:37 PM, Quinn C wrote:
> * Mr. Marmite:

>> charles <cha...@candehope.me.uk> wrote:
>>> Mr. Marmite <mr__m...@hotmail.com> wrote:

>>>> Peter Moylan <pe...@pmoylan.org.invalid> wrote:

>>>> [snip]

>>>>> In 1954, approximately, ERII passed through our town. Half
>>>>> the town stood on the railway embankment to watch the train
>>>>> go past. Her Majesty had the shades closed.

>>>> She obviously hasn't changed much then, as the only time I've
>>>> come across her was when she was meeting a visiting Head Of
>>>> State on his/her arrival at Victoria Station in the early
>>>> 1970s. I still remember her snarl of rage and words of
>>>> admonishment, which I admit I wasn't close enough to hear, to
>>>> the unfortunate young cavalryman whose horse shied close to her
>>>> carriage. Maybe she's become a trifle mellower in her old age.
>>>> Me as well, I suppose; I'm not quite the Republican I was years
>>>> ago!

Maybe too enthusiastic with the bit?

>>> as a rider herself, she was probably outraged and showed it.
>>> After all, for many years she was mounted for Trooping the
>>> Colour.

>> True enough, but it was the venom displayed that really got my
>> goat.

> Thanks, now I know the venom of choice if I ever have to get rid of
> some goats.

Be careful not to get any up your nose.

[Pat Durkin]

Perhaps because of my own name, I long ago came to terms with the expression, accepting that it is from "patent", meaning obvious, open, accepted...whatever.
It has been so long since I viewed this venerable group that I can't be sure how to post, but I have loved seeing so many of the old familiars. And we are old, now...er....

[Pat Durkin]

On Thursday, June 27, 2019 at 8:25:36 AM UTC-5, Pat Durkin wrote:
> On Saturday, June 22, 2019 at 6:17:53 PM UTC-5, PeterWD wrote:
> > On Sat, 22 Jun 2019 07:13:13 -0600, Jerry Friedman
> > <jerry_f...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> >
> > >On 6/21/19 4:44 PM, Peter Duncanson [BrE] wrote:
> > >> On Fri, 21 Jun 2019 15:02:34 -0600, Jerry Friedman
> > >> <jerry_f...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > >>
> > >>> On 6/21/19 1:06 PM, snide...@gmail.com wrote:
> > >>>> On Friday, June 21, 2019 at 10:09:14 AM UTC-7, Peter Moylan wrote:
> > >>>
> > >>> [Stand, Pat!]
> > >>>
> > >>>>> By the way, since this is alt.usage.english, I noticed that nobody back
> > >>>>> in 2010 could explain why the word "pat" is used in this expression.
> > >>>>
> >

> > --
> > Peter Duncanson, UK
> > (in alt.usage.english)
>
> Perhaps because of my own name, I long ago came to terms with the expression, accepting that it is from "patent", meaning obvious, open, accepted...whatever.
> It has been so long since I viewed this venerable group that I can't be sure how to post, but I have loved seeing so many of the old familiars. And we are old, now...er....

And now I see that I posted the previous without snipping a lot of material in previous postings.

sorry about that.

[Jerry Friedman]

Don't think it is, though.

(And I must say it's better than "jerry-built".)

> It has been so long since I viewed this venerable group that I can't be sure how to post, but I have loved seeing so many of the old familiars. And we are old, now...er....

Good to see you here!

--
Jerry Friedman

[John Varela]

On Thu, 27 Jun 2019 13:25:33 UTC, Pat Durkin <durk...@msn.com>
wrote:

> It has been so long since I viewed this venerable group that I can't be sure how to post, but I have loved seeing so many of the old familiars.

Welcome back. Planning to stay?

--
John Varela

[Athel Cornish-Bowden]

Most of us are old, alas.


--
athel

[Pat Durkin]

On Friday, June 28, 2019 at 11:45:24 AM UTC-5, Jerry Friedman wrote:
> On 6/27/19 7:25 AM, Pat Durkin wrote:
> > On Saturday, June 22, 2019 at 6:17:53 PM UTC-5, PeterWD wrote:
> >> On Sat, 22 Jun 2019 07:13:13 -0600, Jerry Friedman
> >> <jerry_f...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> >>
> >>> On 6/21/19 4:44 PM, Peter Duncanson [BrE] wrote:
> >>>> On Fri, 21 Jun 2019 15:02:34 -0600, Jerry Friedman
> >>>> <jerry_f...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>> On 6/21/19 1:06 PM, snide...@gmail.com wrote:
> >>>>>> On Friday, June 21, 2019 at 10:09:14 AM UTC-7, Peter Moylan wrote:
> >>>>>
> >>>>> [Stand, Pat!]
> >>>>>
> >>>>>>> By the way, since this is alt.usage.english, I noticed that nobody back
> >>>>>>> in 2010 could explain why the word "pat" is used in this expression.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Just to muddy the waters,
> >>>>>> I'll note that in a /different/ table game, blackjack,
> >>>>>> it is common to signal the dealer that you want another card
> >>>>>> by _tapping_ the table.
> >>>>>> I don't think that explains the poker usage.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> I'm jonesing (malías, as they say around here) for the OED again, but
> >>>>> the AHD includes, under "pat" means "suitable, appropriate", the sense
> >>>>> "Being a poker hand that is strong enough to make drawing cards unlikely
> >>>>> to improve it." So maybe "stand pat" comes from "pat hand", which seems

> >>

> >> --
> >> Peter Duncanson, UK
> >> (in alt.usage.english)
> >
> > Perhaps because of my own name, I long ago came to terms with the expression, accepting that it is from "patent", meaning obvious, open, accepted...whatever.
>
> Don't think it is, though.
>
> (And I must say it's better than "jerry-built".)
>
> > It has been so long since I viewed this venerable group that I can't be sure how to post, but I have loved seeing so many of the old familiars. And we are old, now...er....
>
> Good to see you here!
>
> --
> Jerry Friedman

Good to see we are (almost) all still here! Of course I remember your names...Jerry, John, Athel...and others. I am recruiting a very busy friend who likes words/word play. I will let the friend know that you appreciate the play but are truly dead serious. And, other than relatives, I find this group much more stimulating than (forgive me!) Facebook.

[Athel Cornish-Bowden]

I remember your name as well, and when I saw it a day or to ago I
didn't immediately think how long you had been away. Anyway, welcome
back. We are most of us getting old, and I don't see much new blood
arriving, so I fear that the group won't outlast us. It remains one of
the most active groups in Usenet: talk.origins has a great deal of
traffic (more than here) but it is almost all concerned with respinding
to nutters.


--
athel

[Peter Moylan]

As it happens, I was at a meeting today of our choir's organising
committee. One of the topics was whether we should join a school strike
for climate change action. The conclusion was that we are of the wrong
generation. It is likely that the choir - activists, all of us - will
die of old age of its members. Exactly like AUE.