all fours

American  

noun

1. all four limbs or extremities; the four legs or feet of an animal or both arms and both legs or both hands and both feet of a person.

   The cat rolled off the ledge but landed on all fours.

2. Also called high-low-jack, old sledge, pitch, seven-up.  (used with a singular verb) a game for two or three players or two partnerships in which a 52-card pack is used, the object being to win special scoring values for the highest trump, the lowest trump, the jack, the ace, the ten, and the face cards.

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idioms

1. on all fours,

   1. in conformity with; corresponding exactly with.

   2. (of a person) on the hands and feet, or the hands and knees.

      I had to go on all fours to squeeze through the low opening.

all fours British  

noun

1. both the arms and legs of a person or all the legs of a quadruped (esp in the phrase on all fours )

2. another name for seven-up

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Etymology

Origin of all fours

First recorded in 1555–65

Example Sentences

Woo’s running on all fours, leading the party and chasing after the enchanted blade he once stole from Tano’s office.

From Literature

She dropped to all fours and scampered along the floor, just as she used to.

From Literature

Soon Cassiopeia forgot herself completely and began to run on all fours.

From Literature

The ceiling was so low they had to crawl on all fours; even so, Penelope could not help bumping her head now and then.

From Literature

Although its limbs were not preserved, the researchers believe it moved on all fours, similar to related species.

From Science Daily