four-on-the-floor

1 of 2

noun

ˈfȯr-ˌȯn-ṯẖə-ˈflȯr 

1

: a musical rhythm in four-four in which the kick drum is struck on all four beats of the measure

… a solid four-on-the-floor unmistakably kicks in behind the lead vocals …

—Jon Pareles

2

: a four-speed manual transmission with its gearshift mounted on the floor next to the driver

… sporty, high-performance Mustangs with bucket seats, race-car steering and four-on-the-floor.

—Michael H. Cottman

four-on-the-floor

2 of 2

adjective

1

or less commonly four-to-the-floor

ˈfȯr-ˌtü-ṯẖə-ˈflȯr 

: played in four-four with the kick drum struck on all four beats of the measure

… this is dance music, after all, and the melody is subservient to the four-on-the-floor groove.

—Jeff Miers

Emerging from … coastal Louisiana, zydeco and Cajun songs feature four-to-the-floor beats …

—John Seal

2

: being or having a four-speed manual transmission with its gearshift mounted on the floor next to the driver

My wife, a devotee of automatic transmissions, was appalled when she first saw that it was four-on-the-floor. But her long-ago expertise shifting … quickly returned and she had no problems on the trip.

—John Handley

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1962, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Adjective

1963, in the meaning defined at sense 2