You use rat-a-tat to represent a series of sharp, repeated sounds, for example the sound of someone knocking at a door.
...the rat-a-tat at the door.
N-SING ; SOUND
You use rat-a-tat to represent a series of sharp, repeated sounds, for example the sound of someone knocking at a door.
...the rat-a-tat at the door.
N-SING ; SOUND
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary. Английский словарь Коллинз COBUILD для изучающих язык на продвинутом уровне. 2006