on all fours
1
to be down on one's hands and knees
The origin of the idiom "on all fours" can be traced back to the literal posture of animals, particularly quadrupeds, who move or stand by supporting their body weight on all four limbs. The phrase is now used metaphorically to refer to a human imitating this posture, either by crawling or bending down on hands and knees.
- The toddler was on all fours, exploring the room and crawling towards his toys.
- The hiker lost his balance and fell, ending up on all fours as he regained his footing on the slippery trail.
- The yoga instructor instructed the class to get on all fours for the cat-cow pose.
- The dog excitedly wagged its tail and got on all fours, ready to play fetch with its owner.
- After an exhausting race, the runner collapsed on all fours, trying to catch their breath and recover.