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Synonyms

on all fours

Idioms  
  1. On one's hands and knees, as in Seven of us were on all fours, looking for the lost earring in the sand. In this idiom fours refers to the four limbs. [1300s]


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

She ran and then, unable to see, crawled on all fours to escape.

From Los Angeles Times May 26, 2026

I went in probably on all fours just because I was tired.

From The Wall Street Journal Apr. 6, 2026

He explained how a person could be constantly tripping over debris and obstructions and at times having to go "on all fours" to try to get through the tunnel.

From BBC Feb. 18, 2026

The agile robot dog springs up on all fours, takes a step forward and charges at the tense crowd at a Tokyo exhibit, held back by a simple yet strong metal chain.

From Barron's Jan. 30, 2026

One day when I go downstairs to flip the circuit breaker, I catch Hunter on all fours, trying to walk like a vuvv, with his back to the floor.

From "Landscape with Invisible Hand" by M.T. Anderson

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