all fours

A a

Transcription

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- /ɔl fɔːr/

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- /ɔl fɔːr/

Definitions of all fours words

noun all fours both the arms and legs of a person or all the legs of a quadruped (esp in the phrase on all fours) 3
noun all fours any of several card games in which four points may be scored during the play of a hand, for winning the high trump, low trump, and jack of trumps, and for “game” (the largest high-card count) 3
noun all fours 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. 1
noun all fours (used with a singular verb). Also called high-low-jack, old sledge, pitch, seven-up. Cards. 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. 1
idioms all fours on all fours, in conformity with; corresponding exactly with. (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. 1
noun all fours The four legs of a quadruped. 0

See all 8 definitions of all fours

Information block about the term

Origin of all fours

First appearance:

before 1555

One of the 31% oldest English words

First recorded in 1555-65

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for All fours

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

Full grammatical hierarchy of All fours

all fours popularity

A pretty common term. Usually people know it’s meaning, but prefer to use a more spread out synonym. About 39% of English native speakers know the meaning and use word.

According to our data about 58% of words is more used. This is a rare but used term. It occurs in the pages of specialized literature and in the speech of educated people.

all fours usage trend in Literature

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