estar de quatro
To be on all fours
Literally: to be of four
Use it when you're totally exhausted or defeated by work, health, or a crush among close friends.
In 15 Seconds
- Used to describe being completely exhausted or overwhelmed by life.
- Can mean being desperately in love and powerless to it.
- Highly informal; best used with friends or close family members.
Meaning
This phrase describes someone who is completely overwhelmed, exhausted, or defeated by a situation. It's like saying you've been knocked down and are crawling because you can't stand up anymore.
Key Examples
3 of 6After a grueling gym session
Aquele treino me deixou de quatro!
That workout left me on all fours!
Talking about a difficult work week
Essa semana no escritório me deixou de quatro.
This week at the office really beat me down.
Explaining a bad flu
Essa gripe me deixou de quatro o fim de semana todo.
This flu had me down for the count all weekend.
Cultural Background
The phrase reflects the Brazilian tendency toward dramatic, physical metaphors to express emotional or physical exhaustion. While it can literally describe a physical position, its idiomatic use often appears in 'sofrência' music (songs about heartbreak) to describe someone defeated by love.
Double Entendre Alert
In some contexts, this phrase has a sexual meaning. Always ensure your tone makes it clear you are talking about exhaustion or love to avoid awkwardness.
The 'Tô' Shortcut
In spoken Brazilian Portuguese, people rarely say `Estou`. They say `Tô de quatro`. It sounds much more natural and native.
In 15 Seconds
- Used to describe being completely exhausted or overwhelmed by life.
- Can mean being desperately in love and powerless to it.
- Highly informal; best used with friends or close family members.
What It Means
Imagine you just finished a marathon. Your legs are jelly. You are literally crawling. That is estar de quatro. In a figurative sense, it means life has beaten you down. You are in a vulnerable or desperate position. It implies you have no strength left to fight. It is a vivid image of total exhaustion or submission.
How To Use It
You use it to describe your state after a long day. Use it when a project at work is killing you. It usually follows the verb estar. You can say estou de quatro to mean 'I am exhausted.' It can also mean being 'head over heels' in love. In that case, you are powerless because of your feelings. It is a very flexible expression for being overwhelmed.
When To Use It
Use it with your close friends after a hard week. It works great when complaining about a difficult boss. Use it when describing a flu that kept you in bed. It is perfect for texting a group chat about exams. It adds a touch of drama to your fatigue. It makes your struggle feel more relatable to others.
When NOT To Use It
Never use this in a job interview. Avoid it with people you don't know well. It can have a sexual connotation in some contexts. Be very careful with the physical posture description. Don't use it in a funeral or serious tragedy. It is too informal for official business emails. Keep it for people who understand your sense of humor.
Cultural Background
Brazilians love using physical metaphors for emotional states. Being 'on all fours' suggests a loss of human dignity. It dates back to old descriptions of being humbled. In modern pop culture, it appears in songs about heartbreak. It captures the 'jeitinho' of complaining about hard work. It shows the dramatic flair of the Portuguese language.
Common Variations
You might hear ficar de quatro. This means the act of falling into that state. Some people say arriado which means 'dropped' or 'lowered.' Another variation is nas últimas, meaning you are on your last legs. However, estar de quatro remains the most visual. It perfectly captures that feeling of 'I just can't even today.'
Usage Notes
This is a high-energy, slangy idiom. It's best used in spoken conversation or casual digital chat. Be mindful of the context to ensure the 'exhaustion' meaning isn't confused with the 'romantic' or 'sexual' ones.
Double Entendre Alert
In some contexts, this phrase has a sexual meaning. Always ensure your tone makes it clear you are talking about exhaustion or love to avoid awkwardness.
The 'Tô' Shortcut
In spoken Brazilian Portuguese, people rarely say `Estou`. They say `Tô de quatro`. It sounds much more natural and native.
Love vs. Tiredness
If you say `estou de quatro POR alguém`, it always means love. If you just say `estou de quatro`, it usually means you're tired.
Examples
6Aquele treino me deixou de quatro!
That workout left me on all fours!
Describes physical exhaustion perfectly.
Essa semana no escritório me deixou de quatro.
This week at the office really beat me down.
Shows being overwhelmed by professional tasks.
Essa gripe me deixou de quatro o fim de semana todo.
This flu had me down for the count all weekend.
Used to describe how an illness took away your strength.
Você está de quatro por ela, hein?
You're head over heels for her, aren't you?
Here it means being completely infatuated/submissive to love.
As provas finais estão me deixando de quatro!
Final exams are killing me!
Common way for students to vent stress.
Admito que a complexidade do projeto me deixou de quatro.
I admit the project's complexity has me overwhelmed.
Only use if there is a high level of trust.
Test Yourself
Choose the correct verb to complete the expression of exhaustion.
Depois de correr 20km, eu ___ de quatro.
The phrase uses the verb 'estar' (to be) to describe a current state of being.
Complete the sentence to show you are obsessed with a new hobby.
Eu estou de ___ por esse novo videogame!
The idiom is fixed as 'de quatro' (on all fours); changing the number breaks the idiom.
🎉 Score: /2
Visual Learning Aids
Formality Scale of 'Estar de Quatro'
With best friends or siblings while complaining.
Tô de quatro, mano!
Casual coworkers or friendly neighbors.
O trabalho me deixou de quatro.
General conversation, but use with caution.
A situação é difícil.
Avoid. Use 'exaurido' or 'sobrecarregado' instead.
N/A
When to say 'Estar de Quatro'
Physical Fatigue
After the gym
Romantic Infatuation
Crushing hard
Work Stress
Deadlines
Illness
Having the flu
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsIt can, but 99% of the time it is used figuratively to mean you are exhausted or defeated. You don't actually have to be on the floor to say estou de quatro.
Yes, usually. It is very informal. Unless you have a very close, friend-like relationship with your boss, stick to estou cansado or estou sobrecarregado.
Absolutely! If you say Ele está de quatro por ela, it means he is totally obsessed and would do anything for her.
Estar describes the state you are in now, while ficar describes the process of becoming exhausted. For example: Fiquei de quatro depois da aula.
Yes, but it is much more common in Brazil. In Portugal, they might use other expressions like estar de rastos for the same feeling.
It refers to your four limbs (two hands and two feet) touching the ground, like an animal.
Yes, it's perfect for texting! Using emojis like 😩 or 😵 after tô de quatro helps convey the meaning of exhaustion.
Only informally. You could say a company is de quatro if it's failing or in a very weak position during a negotiation.
Yes, you can say estar exausto (to be exhausted) or estar acabado (to be finished/worn out).
Yes, it is gender-neutral. Both men and women use estar de quatro exactly the same way.
Related Phrases
Estar acabado
To be worn out / finished
Estar nas últimas
To be on one's last legs
Estar morto
To be 'dead' (tired)
Estar de rastos
To be crawling / exhausted (common in Portugal)
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