Question: what does it mean when someone hugs you and pats you on the back?
Answer: For a simple gesture, hugs can be quite complicated. ... They give a full embrace and lightly pat on their partner's back. The pat is a sign of closeness and comfort, but a slightly awkward one. It's a way of saying, “I care about you, but lightly patting your back is the only way I know how to show it.”