| CONGRATULATE | After catching rat unexpectedly, uncle got a pat on the back (12) |
| TIARA | A rat unexpectedly grabbing one jewelled headdress (5) |
| TEAM | Thomas O'Keefe, catching rat in net, makes a sacrifice (5,3,3,3,4) |
| TAKESONEFORTHE | Thomas O'Keefe, catching rat in net, makes a sacrifice (5,3,3,3,4) |
| NEVERMIND | Man catching rat maybe let it go (5,4) |
| ARDENTLY | Edward's uncle got over slight depression with zeal |
| UNCLOTHE | Dispense with outfit uncle got terribly hot in (8) |
| WHYYOULITTLE | What a solver might growl after catching on to this puzzle's theme? |
| ACCOLADE | A pat on the back or a touch on the shoulder? (8) |
| APPRAISE | A pat on the back, after Dad returns to estimate the worth (8) |
| STILETTOEELS | Sharplooking fishes that make you seem taller after catching them? |
| BURP | Now, give baby a pat on the back: It's the hoped-for post-meal release |
| TAKETHECREDIT | What the bank might expect you to do to give oneself a pat on the back? (4,3,6) |
| LAUDABLE | A pat on the back can be praiseworthy (8) |
| GOODFORYOU | Comment made with a pat on the back |
| CATAPULT | Shanghai cult welcomes a pat on the back (8) |
| CONGRATULATIONS | Cliff's Eurovision song deserves a pat on the back (15) |
| GASSY | Needing a pat on the back, say |
| CONSOLING | Giving a pat on the back, say |
| PRAISE | Give a pat on the back |
