all fours: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, descriptive, occasionally idiomatic
Quick answer
What does “all fours” mean?
A position on hands and knees.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A position on hands and knees; to be on all fours.
Used to describe something being in a stable, four-point stance or position; idiomatically, 'down on all fours' suggests being in a low or humble position, either physically or metaphorically.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is nearly identical in both varieties. The phrase is perhaps slightly more common in British English in its metaphorical sense (e.g., 'brought the company down on all fours').
Connotations
Neutral for physical description; can carry connotations of subservience, practicality, or being grounded when used metaphorically.
Frequency
Low-to-medium frequency; more common in descriptive prose (e.g., novels, instructions) than in everyday conversation.
Grammar
How to Use “all fours” in a Sentence
[Subject] be/go/get [Prepositional Phrase: on all fours]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “all fours” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The toddler will often all-fours it across the carpet to reach a toy.
American English
- He had to all-four his way through the low cave passage.
adverb
British English
- She moved all-fours along the narrow ledge.
American English
- They progressed all-fours through the dense underbrush.
adjective
British English
- The all-fours posture is common in early child development.
American English
- It was an all-fours scramble over the rocky terrain.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; potentially used metaphorically: 'The scandal brought the CEO down on all fours.'
Academic
Used in anatomy, physiology, or child development contexts to describe posture.
Everyday
Describing searching for something dropped, playing with children or pets, or cleaning under furniture.
Technical
Used in veterinary science, physical therapy, or certain sports/ yoga descriptions (e.g., 'tabletop position').
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “all fours”
- Using 'all four' without the 's' (*'on all four').
- Confusing with the card game 'All Fours'.
- Using it to describe an object with four stable parts (e.g., a chair) is atypical.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it can describe the natural posture of many animals, though we more often say 'on four legs' for animals. For humans, it specifically means on hands and knees.
'On all fours' describes a static position (being supported by hands and knees). 'Crawling' describes the action of moving while in that position. You can be 'on all fours' without moving.
Yes, 'All Fours' is a traditional trick-taking card game, but this is a separate lexical item (a compound noun). The phrase 'on all fours' is unrelated to the game.
It is acceptable in descriptive formal writing (e.g., scientific observation). However, its metaphorical use ('down on all fours') is informal and often literary.
A position on hands and knees.
All fours: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɔːl ˈfɔːz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɔːl ˈfɔːrz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “down on all fours (metaphorically: in a humble or desperate state)”
- “level on all fours (rare: completely even or equal)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a FOUR-legged animal (like a dog) and the word 'ALL' — an animal uses ALL FOUR of its limbs to stand.
Conceptual Metaphor
LOW STATUS IS LOW PHYSICAL POSITION ('He was brought down on all fours'). STABILITY IS A WIDE BASE ('The design sat on all fours').
Practice
Quiz
Which situation best describes being 'on all fours'?