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Glite Dictionary
rat-tat

rat-tat

1 7.7
A series of quick, sharp knocks often on a door or drum
  • noun
  • /ˈrætˌtæt/
translation icon : tac-tac
  • So he gave a little rat tat tat on the door and Carl was like, yeah, I've, I've got her upstairs.

Examples

  • The children loved the rat-tat of the drummer as he played during the parade.

  • We heard a quick rat-tat at the door, so I went to see who was there.

  • As she practiced, the rat-tat of her fingers on the drum provided a lively rhythm.

Synonyms

knock
vsrat-tat
81 1.3

A short sharp sound made by hitting a surface or by a machine problem

focuses on a repeated series of short sharp sounds instead
rap
vsrat-tat
25 2.1

A short sharp knock on a surface to get attention

is a continuous series of short sharp sounds rather than one hit
tapping
vsrat-tat
22 1.9

A light repeated sound made by gentle knocks

is stronger and sharper rather than light or gentle in sound
knocking
vsrat-tat
8 2.2

A sharp repeated sound from a door or machine when parts hit each other

is more specific about short sharp taps on doors or drums
to clack
vsrat-tat
5 7.2

To make short, sharp clicking sounds

is similar but implies clear sharp taps on door or drum
rat-a-tat
vsrat-tat
1 7.6

A quick series of short, sharp taps like knocking or drumbeats

is the same meaning but is the alternate shorter variant
rat-a-tat-tat
vsrat-tat
1 9.0

A series of short, sharp tapping sounds like knocking on a door

is the same meaning but differs slightly in form or repetition

How Loud

clatter
36 4.0
rat-tat
1 7.7
patter
9 4.0
tap
66 1.0

Surface Forms

rat-tat singular
rat-tats plural

Etymology

The word rat-tat is a word that copies a quick, sharp sound, split into two beats, rat and tat, like the 'taps' you hear at a door or on a drum. So, rat-tat means a series of short knocks or taps.