on all fours
Definition
- Adverb:
- On hands and knees: The phrase "on all fours" describes the physical position of a person or animal supporting their body with both hands and both knees (or feet) on the ground, similar to how many four-legged animals stand or move.
Usage
- This phrase is used to describe a specific posture. It is an adverbial phrase, meaning it modifies a verb to describe an action is performed (e.g., to crawl, to get down, to be).
- It is typically used after verbs like "get," "crawl," "be," or "go."
Examples
- Adverb:
- The toddler crawled on all fours across the carpet.
- He got down on all fours to search for his lost contact lens under the table.
- The bear moved on all fours through the dense underbrush.
Advanced Usage
- Legal Analogy: In specialized legal contexts, the phrase can be used metaphorically in the idiom "on all fours with." This means a current case is directly analogous or identical in its relevant facts and points of law to a previous case, providing a strong precedent.
- The judge ruled that the new dispute was on all fours with the precedent set in the 1995 Supreme Court decision.
Variants and Related Words
- Hands and knees: A synonymous noun phrase for the same posture.
- She was on her hands and knees scrubbing the floor.
Synonyms
- On one's hands and knees: A slightly more formal or explicit synonym.
- Crawling: While "crawling" describes the motion, it often implies being on all fours.
Related Idioms
- "On all fours with": As noted in Advanced Usage, this is a legal idiom meaning to be in precise agreement or analogy with a previous case or argument.
Adverb
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on hands and knees
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he got down on all fours to play with his grandson
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