Expression: Quatre à quatre

Meaning: very quickly

Literal translation: four by four


Notes: The French expression quatre à quatre is used to talk about rushing up or down stairs. Monter un escalier quatre à quatre and descendre un escalier quatre à quatre indicate that someone is ascending or descending very quickly and taking several - though probably not literally four - steps at a time.

Example:
Quand j'ai entendu la cloche, j'ai monté l'escalier quatre à quatre pour y arriver à l'heure.
When I heard the bell, I ran up the stairs (in order) to get there in time.