a pat on the back 鼓励
【讲解】
pat的意思是“轻拍”。a pat on the back指“在某人后背轻拍,以示首肯、赞许或鼓励”。
【对话】
A: Mary didn't pass the final exam in plysics.
A: 玛丽在期终考试中物理没有及格。
B:She must be very sad.
B: 她一定很难过。
A: Her parents scolded her severely and she's very depressed now.
A: 她的父母狠狠地批评了她一顿,她现在情绪非常低落。
B:At a time like this,what she needs is a pat on the back rather than a blame.
B:在这个时候,她需要的是鼓励,而不是责备。