all foursn.

Brit.

/ˌɔːl ˈfɔːz/, U.S.

/ˌɔl ˈfɔrz/,

/ˌɑl ˈfɔrz/

Forms:

α. see all adj. and four adj. and n.

β. 1600s– all fours.

Origin: Formed within English, by compounding. Etymons: all adj., four adj.

Etymology: In α. forms < all adj. + four adj., with reference to the four legs of an animal. In β. forms probably showing an alteration of the α. forms after fours , plural of four n. (perhaps compare also the adverbial ending -s suffix¹); however, senses 3 and 4 may show an independent formation < all adj. + fours , plural of four n., and use of this in sense 3 may have influenced the use of the β. forms in senses 1 and 2.

1. on (also upon) all fours: (of a person) on hands and knees; (of an animal) on all four legs rather than just the hind ones. Hence from (to, etc.) all fours: from (to, etc.) such a position.

ΚΠ

α.

a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 1788 (MED) Whilum þei went on alle four as doþ wilde bestes.

c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness l. 1683 (MED) He fares forth on alle faure.

1509 A. Barclay Brant's Shyp of Folys (Pynson) f. cxix Other creatures that ar vnresonable Goeth on all foure.

1563 2nd Tome Homelyes Eeee.ii.^v A brute beaste, crepyng vppon all foure.

1611 Bible (King James) Lev. xi. 20 All foules that creepe, going vpon all foure [L. super quattuor pedes], shalbe an abomination vnto you.

1664 T. Killigrew Parsons Wedding i. iii, in Comedies & Trag. 81 I wonder he [sc. the knight's son] doth not go on all four too, and hold up his leg when he stales.

1712 J. Arbuthnot John Bull in his Senses iv. 18 I would crawl upon all Four to serve you.

1789 Analyt. Rev. Feb. 150 He mounted, on all four, some dark back stairs.

1819 Gregory's New Dict. Arts & Sci. I. at Biped Apes occasionally walk on their hind legs,..but their more natural position is on all four.

1880 L. R. Trevelyan Year in Peshawur 9 The horse he usually rode for an evening airing knew better how to gallop on his fore-legs than on all four.

β. 1698 tr. A. Brand Jrnl. Embassy from Muscovy 80 A Man dressed up in a Tigers Skin pass'd through the Room upon all-fours.1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 211 I was oblig'd to creep upon all Fours.1785 Probationary Odes for Laureatship p. xxxi Human beings originally moved on all fours.1814 W. Scott Waverley II. xv. 229 Edward..could perceive him crawling on all fours . 1862 E. H. Verney Shannon's Brigade in India v. 48 A third ‘pitch’ brings the camel on to all fours.1885 ‘F. Anstey’ Tinted Venus xii. 150 Leander went down on all fours on the hearth-rug.1939 J. Cannan They rang up Police 158 The maids, whose caps, as he rose from all-fours, bobbed away from the windows.1968 Boys' Life May 61/3 He..dropped to all fours and bolted for freedom.2005 Yoga Apr. 41/1 From the Cat's Pose on all fours, inhale while contracting your abdominal muscles.

2. figurative.

a. to run on (also upon) all fours: to proceed smoothly; to function effectively; to succeed compatibly with.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > foundation in fact, validity > be or remain valid [verb (intransitive)]

standOE

holdc1315

to hold out water1598

to run on all fours1617

hold water1622

to pass for (later as) sterling1641

ring1857

α.

1617 T. Tuke Theol. Disc. 29 (margin) No similitude runnes on all foure.

1673 H. Hickman Hist. Quinq-articularis 13 Similitudes do not run on all four, as the Proverb is.

1710 J. St. Leger Manager's Pro & Con 50 Tho' the Comparison should not exactly run upon all four when examined.

1764 A. Seward Let. Jan. in Poet. Wks. (1810) I. p. lxxxix The metaphor..does not run very well on all four, the words valley and forest forming an imperfect sentence.

β. 1678 V. Alsop Melius Inquirendum 3/2 Yet for all this, His Supremacy will be no longer allowed, than it runs on all fours, to the utter Extirpation of all that dissent from our Church.1748 S. Richardson Clarissa VI. lxxvii. 282 From that time, he made clear work, renouncing all that stood in his way: And then his doctrines ran upon all fours.1781 J. Newton Cardiphonia II. 172 Worldly people expect their schemes to run upon all-fours.1865 J. A. Heraud Shakspere iv. i. 289 I have no wish to make the allegory concealed in this drama run on all fours with the events contained in it.1894 Accountant 5 May 393/1 The argument also does not run on all fours with Mr. Swainson's contentions.1905 E. B. Pollard P. Judson x. 112 He had told the very truth; even though the application might not run upon all fours.1996 A. R. Dyck Comm. on Cicero, De Officis 253 Our analogy does not ‘run on all fours’.

b. Chiefly with with. to be (also stand, etc.) on all fours: to be on an equal footing; to exhibit an exact analogy or comparison; to be compatible.

ΚΠ

1860 Hansard's Parl. Deb. 3rd Ser. 3 Aug. 659 The case of the letter-carriers in the Post Office stood on all-fours with that of the Sir Stafford Northcote dockyard labourers.

1883 Daily News 8 Feb. 3/7 The decision I have quoted is on all fours with this case.

1931 Economist 8 Aug. 277/1 The railways maintain that conditions in Great Britain and America are not on all fours.

1961 Ann. Reg. 1960 49 It was impossible to make an agreement exactly on all fours with the Anglo-American bomber base agreement.

2003 New Yorker 8 Sept. 31/1 Spiritual values can be on all fours with civic duty.

3. Cards. A game involving the taking of tricks (trick n. 12), in which four game points are available per round: for being dealt the highest trump, being dealt the lowest trump, taking the Jack of trumps, and winning the most tricks. Also called high-low-Jack. Cf. pitch n.² 6b, seven-up n. 1. Now chiefly Caribbean (in Trinidadian and Tobagan use).

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > card game > other card games > [noun] > all fours

all fours1674

seven-up1830

old sledge1834

pitch1860

California jack1865

Pedro Sancho1875

cinch1889

high five1889

Californian jack1893

sell-out-

1674 C. Cotton Compl. Gamester x. 111 This Game I conceive is called All-Fours from Highest, Lowest, Jack and Game, which is the Set as some play it.

1707 G. Farquhar Beaux Stratagem v. 57 Sull. Can you play at Whisk, Sir? Sir Ch. No, truly, Sir. Sull. Nor at All-fours?

1775 R. B. Sheridan St. Patrick's Day i. ii. 293 To drink bohea tea, and play at allfours on a drum head.

1818 M. L. Weems Let. in Ford's M. L. Weems: Wks. & Ways (1929) III. 225 He was easily over-persuaded (a common curse of whiskey) to try his luck at All Fours.

1851 H. Mayhew London Labour I. 11/2 The usual games are all-fours, all-fives, cribbage.

1907 A. H. Lewis When Men grew Tall ii. 15 Would you like to play a game of all-fours, and make it double or nothing?

1973 Express (Trinidad & Tobago) 26 June 1 She even played all fours with her neighbours.

2001 R. Carrington Every Bitter Thing Sweet 207 Elsewhere, the more skilled game of all-fours went on.

†4. Dominoes. A variety of all fives (see all fives n. 3) in which points are scored only when the sum of the spots at the two ends is four or a multiple thereof. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > table game > dominoes > [noun] > forms of game

rounce1845

tiddlywink1857

matador1865

all fives1868

muggins1868

Malakoff1870

all fours1872

sniff1917

1872 R. K. Philp Take my Advice x. 268/2 All Fives...The object of each is so to play out his stones that the dots at either end count five, or combinations of fives... All Fours is played on the same principle.

1895 J. T. Clegg Wks. I. 117 Aw've getten one or two agate o' domino playin, an' thried hard to dhrill all fours into their thick yeads.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2012; most recently modified version published online December 2021).

单词	all fours
释义	all foursn. Brit. /ˌɔːl ˈfɔːz/, U.S. /ˌɔl ˈfɔrz/, /ˌɑl ˈfɔrz/ Forms: α. see all adj. and four adj. and n. β. 1600s– all fours. Origin: Formed within English, by compounding. Etymons: all adj., four adj. Etymology: In α. forms < all adj. + four adj., with reference to the four legs of an animal. In β. forms probably showing an alteration of the α. forms after fours , plural of four n. (perhaps compare also the adverbial ending -s suffix¹); however, senses 3 and 4 may show an independent formation < all adj. + fours , plural of four n., and use of this in sense 3 may have influenced the use of the β. forms in senses 1 and 2. 1. on (also upon) all fours: (of a person) on hands and knees; (of an animal) on all four legs rather than just the hind ones. Hence from (to, etc.) all fours: from (to, etc.) such a position. ΚΠ α. a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 1788 (MED) Whilum þei went on alle four as doþ wilde bestes. c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness l. 1683 (MED) He fares forth on alle faure. 1509 A. Barclay Brant's Shyp of Folys (Pynson) f. cxix Other creatures that ar vnresonable Goeth on all foure. 1563 2nd Tome Homelyes Eeee.ii.^v A brute beaste, crepyng vppon all foure. 1611 Bible (King James) Lev. xi. 20 All foules that creepe, going vpon all foure [L. super quattuor pedes], shalbe an abomination vnto you. View more context for this quotation 1664 T. Killigrew Parsons Wedding i. iii, in Comedies & Trag. 81 I wonder he [sc. the knight's son] doth not go on all four too, and hold up his leg when he stales. 1712 J. Arbuthnot John Bull in his Senses iv. 18 I would crawl upon all Four to serve you. 1789 Analyt. Rev. Feb. 150 He mounted, on all four, some dark back stairs. 1819 Gregory's New Dict. Arts & Sci. I. at Biped Apes occasionally walk on their hind legs,..but their more natural position is on all four. 1880 L. R. Trevelyan Year in Peshawur 9 The horse he usually rode for an evening airing knew better how to gallop on his fore-legs than on all four. β. 1698 tr. A. Brand Jrnl. Embassy from Muscovy 80 A Man dressed up in a Tigers Skin pass'd through the Room upon all-fours.1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 211 I was oblig'd to creep upon all Fours.1785 Probationary Odes for Laureatship p. xxxi Human beings originally moved on all fours.1814 W. Scott Waverley II. xv. 229 Edward..could perceive him crawling on all fours . View more context for this quotation1862 E. H. Verney Shannon's Brigade in India v. 48 A third ‘pitch’ brings the camel on to all fours.1885 ‘F. Anstey’ Tinted Venus xii. 150 Leander went down on all fours on the hearth-rug.1939 J. Cannan They rang up Police 158 The maids, whose caps, as he rose from all-fours, bobbed away from the windows.1968 Boys' Life May 61/3 He..dropped to all fours and bolted for freedom.2005 Yoga Apr. 41/1 From the Cat's Pose on all fours, inhale while contracting your abdominal muscles. 2. figurative. a. to run on (also upon) all fours: to proceed smoothly; to function effectively; to succeed compatibly with. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > foundation in fact, validity > be or remain valid [verb (intransitive)] standOE holdc1315 to hold out water1598 to run on all fours1617 hold water1622 to pass for (later as) sterling1641 ring1857 α. 1617 T. Tuke Theol. Disc. 29 (margin) No similitude runnes on all foure. 1673 H. Hickman Hist. Quinq-articularis 13 Similitudes do not run on all four, as the Proverb is. 1710 J. St. Leger Manager's Pro & Con 50 Tho' the Comparison should not exactly run upon all four when examined. 1764 A. Seward Let. Jan. in Poet. Wks. (1810) I. p. lxxxix The metaphor..does not run very well on all four, the words valley and forest forming an imperfect sentence. β. 1678 V. Alsop Melius Inquirendum 3/2 Yet for all this, His Supremacy will be no longer allowed, than it runs on all fours, to the utter Extirpation of all that dissent from our Church.1748 S. Richardson Clarissa VI. lxxvii. 282 From that time, he made clear work, renouncing all that stood in his way: And then his doctrines ran upon all fours.1781 J. Newton Cardiphonia II. 172 Worldly people expect their schemes to run upon all-fours.1865 J. A. Heraud Shakspere iv. i. 289 I have no wish to make the allegory concealed in this drama run on all fours with the events contained in it.1894 Accountant 5 May 393/1 The argument also does not run on all fours with Mr. Swainson's contentions.1905 E. B. Pollard P. Judson x. 112 He had told the very truth; even though the application might not run upon all fours.1996 A. R. Dyck Comm. on Cicero, De Officis 253 Our analogy does not ‘run on all fours’. b. Chiefly with with. to be (also stand, etc.) on all fours: to be on an equal footing; to exhibit an exact analogy or comparison; to be compatible. ΚΠ 1860 Hansard's Parl. Deb. 3rd Ser. 3 Aug. 659 The case of the letter-carriers in the Post Office stood on all-fours with that of the Sir Stafford Northcote dockyard labourers. 1883 Daily News 8 Feb. 3/7 The decision I have quoted is on all fours with this case. 1931 Economist 8 Aug. 277/1 The railways maintain that conditions in Great Britain and America are not on all fours. 1961 Ann. Reg. 1960 49 It was impossible to make an agreement exactly on all fours with the Anglo-American bomber base agreement. 2003 New Yorker 8 Sept. 31/1 Spiritual values can be on all fours with civic duty. 3. Cards. A game involving the taking of tricks (trick n. 12), in which four game points are available per round: for being dealt the highest trump, being dealt the lowest trump, taking the Jack of trumps, and winning the most tricks. Also called high-low-Jack. Cf. pitch n.² 6b, seven-up n. 1. Now chiefly Caribbean (in Trinidadian and Tobagan use). ΘΚΠ society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > card game > other card games > [noun] > all fours all fours1674 seven-up1830 old sledge1834 pitch1860 California jack1865 Pedro Sancho1875 cinch1889 high five1889 Californian jack1893 sell-out- 1674 C. Cotton Compl. Gamester x. 111 This Game I conceive is called All-Fours from Highest, Lowest, Jack and Game, which is the Set as some play it. 1707 G. Farquhar Beaux Stratagem v. 57 Sull. Can you play at Whisk, Sir? Sir Ch. No, truly, Sir. Sull. Nor at All-fours? 1775 R. B. Sheridan St. Patrick's Day i. ii. 293 To drink bohea tea, and play at allfours on a drum head. 1818 M. L. Weems Let. in Ford's M. L. Weems: Wks. & Ways (1929) III. 225 He was easily over-persuaded (a common curse of whiskey) to try his luck at All Fours. 1851 H. Mayhew London Labour I. 11/2 The usual games are all-fours, all-fives, cribbage. 1907 A. H. Lewis When Men grew Tall ii. 15 Would you like to play a game of all-fours, and make it double or nothing? 1973 Express (Trinidad & Tobago) 26 June 1 She even played all fours with her neighbours. 2001 R. Carrington Every Bitter Thing Sweet 207 Elsewhere, the more skilled game of all-fours went on. †4. Dominoes. A variety of all fives (see all fives n. 3) in which points are scored only when the sum of the spots at the two ends is four or a multiple thereof. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > table game > dominoes > [noun] > forms of game rounce1845 tiddlywink1857 matador1865 all fives1868 muggins1868 Malakoff1870 all fours1872 sniff1917 1872 R. K. Philp Take my Advice x. 268/2 All Fives...The object of each is so to play out his stones that the dots at either end count five, or combinations of fives... All Fours is played on the same principle. 1895 J. T. Clegg Wks. I. 117 Aw've getten one or two agate o' domino playin, an' thried hard to dhrill all fours into their thick yeads. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2012; most recently modified version published online December 2021). < n.a1375
随便看	to hit the booze, bottle, jug, pot to hit the bricks to hit the canvas to hit the ceiling to hit the deck to hit the floorboard to hit the gong, gow, stuff to hit the ground running to hit the hay to hit the headlines to hit the high spots to hit the highlights to hit the jackpot to hit the lith or to hit upon the lith to hit the mark to hit the master-vein to hit the mastervein to hit the nail to hit the nail on the head to hit the nail upon the head to hit the needle to hit the open man to hit the panic button to hit the pin to hit the pipe