Everybody knows what a pattern is. At least, everybody thinks so. Talking about a common-sense term, used in a specific, technical meaning, comes with both malediction and blessing.
Simple names suggest simple matters.
Let's narrow our topic. No, there are still many misconceptions around. Some people think of design patterns as a panacea in the never-ending quest for a rational software design. Some others regard patterns just as another buzzword in the context of object oriented programming. Don't worry, we won't get lost in philosophical considerations.