To retain one's position; to resist even minor changes

The real estate developer offered me an extra thousand dollars to move, but this is my family house and I will never leave. I will stand pat and I won't let them tear it down

L'impresario edile mi ha offerto due milioni extra per andarmene, ma questa è la mia casa di famiglia e non me ne andrò. Terrò duro e non lascerò che la demoliscano

Several common substances were long patted into shape by hand, which took a lot of skill. The dexterity involved, caused anything apt and clever to be called "pat". Poker players borrowed this term and used it to name an original hand not likely to be improved by drawing additional cards