When he started his own business, he 'patterned himself after' [='modeled himself after'] his father. [=he tried to do the things that his father would do]
The company has put production in a 'holding pattern' [=has temporarily stopped production] while better testing methods are developed.
a 'dress pattern' [=a large piece of paper that is used as a guide for cutting the cloth to make a dress]
(..) This is the priority. Everyone. This is Dr. Ian Donnelly, he'll be running this team, here. Have they responded to anything? Shapes, patterns, numbers, Fibonacci? We can't tell what they're saying, when they respond to 'hello', so... don't get ahead of yourself. - What have you figured out? (..)2016 Arrival