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Glite Dictionary
to count out

to count out

1 6.6
To count to ten to say a boxer has lost when they cannot get up
  • phrasal verb
  • /kaʊnt aʊt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : contar fuera
  • When the fighter did not get up after the last knockdown, the official had no choice but to count out the match.
  • counted out before

Examples

  • Malraux was counted out.

    Academic text (1998)

  • Jordan, however, should not be counted out.

    Academic text (1999)

  • Youth were then "counted out" and selected according to the sampling fraction and predetermined random start number.

    Academic text (1997)

  • After being knocked down twice, the referee started to count out the boxer, declaring him unable to continue.

  • The crowd held their breath as the referee began to count out the fallen athlete, hoping he would rise in time.

Synonyms

to knock out
vsto count out
46 3.4

To remove someone or something from a competition by defeating them

declares a boxer the loser after they fail to rise before ten
to take the count
vsto count out
  • Specialized
8.8

To stay on the floor while the referee counts to ten and lose the fight

declares the opponent the loser when they fail to rise before ten
to remain down
vsto count out
8.1

To stay on the ground while the referee counts to ten and lose the match

declares defeat when the downed boxer does not rise before ten
to knock down for the count
vsto count out
  • Informal
8.2

To be hit so hard that you fall and cannot get up

declares the fight over when the fallen boxer cannot rise before ten

How Defeated

knocked out
29 4.6
to count out
  • Specialized
1 6.6
to knock down
93 3.0

Surface Forms

count out infinitive
counted out past
counted out past participle
counting out present participle
counts out third person singular

Morphology

count + out

The verb 'count' (recite numbers) combined with 'out' (no longer able to continue/knocked out) gives a clear general idea that someone is being counted as unable to continue, so a learner can infer the basic sense. However, the specific procedural boxing meaning—declaring a loss by counting to a prescribed number—depends on domain knowledge of the sport and is not fully predictable from the parts alone, so it is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Count out comes from boxing: when a fighter is knocked down the referee will count to ten and the fighter is 'out' if they cannot stand. That's why count out means to say someone has 'lost'.