on all fours
The phrase "on all fours" can describe both a physical position and metaphorical alignment in various contexts, including legal terminology.
🇺🇸 US Voice:
🇬🇧 UK Voice:
Definition
B2General
(common)In a position where one is supporting their body with their hands and knees.
Example
- The toddler was crawling on all fours across the living room.
C1Legal
(technical)Describing a case that has substantially similar facts and legal issues to another, allowing the precedent to apply.
Example
- The judge found that the current case was on all fours with the earlier ruling.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "on all fours":
all fourson one's kneeson one's backflat on one's backon bended kneeon the floordoggy styleface downget down onfour footon all handsbend over