A pat on the back　　【a pat on the back】赞扬;鼓励 　　例:Pats on the back werent enough; he wanted hard cash.
光表扬不够,他要的是现遥.
　　【反义】a kick in the teeth/pants责备,非难 　　例:All she got for her trouble was a kick in the teeth.
　　【近义】a shot in the arm鼓励 　　pull for为鼓劲 　　speak highly of赞扬 　　A pat on the back is only a few vertebrae removed from a kick in the pants, but is miles ahead in results.
-- Ella Wheeler Wilcox 在后背上拍一下离在遥上踢一脚只有几节脊椎骨那么远，可是遥却要好得多。