lovepat

plural lovepats

1. informalSomeone who travels to another country to be with a romantic partner, or to experience love.

   People either come as lovepats or as skilled migrants, for work.

   2014, Micheline van Riemsdijk, quoting Danuta, “Agents of Local Incorporation: Skilled Migrant Organizations in Oslo, Norway”, in Migrant Professionals in the City, Routledge, →ISBN, pages 89–109

   2 more examples

   These vitally important Expats are the ‘Lovepats’, who, coming in the bedroom window and sliding between the sheets, have down through the years, given their bodies, their genes, and their chromosomes to us grateful Rock Onions.

   1992, Larry Burchall, The other side: looking behind the shield, →ISBN, →LCCN, pages 56–58

   We found three ‘lovepats’ who followed their hearts to the Dutch capital and have no intention of backpedalling any time soon.

   2016 January/February, Lauren Comiteau, “Boundless love: Ain't no mountain high enough”, in A-mag – Amsterdam Magazine, volume 4, number 1, page 38, column 1

plural lovepats

1. A pat (gentle touch, e.g. on the head) meant as a display of love or affection; often euphemistically or sarcastically referring to a more violent hitting.

   When he flipped her over, to give her a lovepat or two, how suddenly the spank became a clout, became a wallop.

   2012, Martin Amis, Lionel Asbo, →ISBN, →LCCN, page 117

   3 more examples

   And Rinda was suddenly aware of a blue bruise just beneath his left eye. He saw her studying it. "A lovepat from my Uncle Rolfe," he said bitterly.

   1984, Valerie Sherwood, Born to love, →ISBN, →OCLC, page 131

   “Did you strike my boy?” he roared at Tippie. “I just gave him a little lovepat on the seat,” Tippie said, and I said “He didn’t do him any harm,” but Henry was in no mood to listen to reason.

   1988, Glen Haley, Sparks fly upward: growing up in the Rockies, →ISBN, →LCCN, page 122

   I don't recall ever having beaten you—at least not yet. And the lovepat and squeezing I gave you certainly can't have hurt that much.

   1991, anonymous author, The metamorphosis of Lisette Joyaux;and, The story of Monique, with other stories, →ISBN, →OCLC, page 136