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Can I say this: "To spank my shoulder when needed" or "to spank on my shoulder when I'm down in life"? Is there a way instead not using spank? Is there any other way to express the same feeling?

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closed as not a real question by aedia λ, JSBձոգչ, kiamlaluno, jwpat7, Daniel Jan 10 '12 at 1:24


Please explain: what is the feeling? –  Matt Эллен Jan 9 '12 at 14:39
What I mean is ...when you are disappointed in life, you need some one to spank on your shoulder( in the way of encouraging by giving moral support) –  raj Jan 9 '12 at 14:44
SHould be pat on the shoulder –  z7sg Ѫ Jan 9 '12 at 14:45
The connotations for 'spanking' are really only for the rear end and for mild corporal punishment for children. And pretty much nothing else. –  Mitch Jan 9 '12 at 15:13
@Mitch: There's a whole slew of NSFW (Not Safe For Work) things you could find online related to spanking and have nothing to do with corporal punishment for children. –  FrustratedWithFormsDesigner Jan 9 '12 at 15:17

3 Answers 3

You would not say "Spank your shoulder".

I think you are thinking of "Pat your back" or "Pat you on the back".

"A word or gesture of praise or approval: received a pat on the back for doing a good job."

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There is some confusion here between several idioms. First, never spank anyone on anything as spanking is a mild form of corporal punishment and I'm sure you don't mean that.

a pat on the back is giving someone praise

a pat on the shoulder is a consolatory gesture (I think this is the one you are thinking of)

a tap on the shoulder is either simply getting someone's attention, or calling someone up for promotion or some other more important duty

There isn't really a physical difference between a pat on the back or a pat on the shoulder, it's all about context, but in English we use two phrases to differentiate between the two intentions.

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If the motion is light, I'd go for a "pat on the shoulder". For example, the kind of thing you'd give a friend to console them after their loss. If it's more percussive, I think I'd go for a "clap on the shoulder", such as you might give someone right before they head out onto the field for a game. As noted above, "spank" contains much different associations which I doubt are what you're aiming for.

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