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]
(..) Well, I actually might be able to help. How so? Like Jane Goodall observing the apes, I initially saw their interactions as confusing and unstructured. But patterns emerge. They have their own language, if you will. Go on. Well, it seems that the newcomer approaches the existing group (..)2007 TvShow: The Big Bang Theory Title: The Middle Earth Paradigm Season: 1 Episode 6