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]
(..) I've been to half of Daggett's cement plants and log locations they poured for underground construction. Honestly, commissioner... I don't know anything about civil engineering. But you know about patterns. Keep lookin'. It's done. This is now... a -megaton nuclear bomb. (..)2012 The Dark Knight Rises