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UKdown for the count
/dˌaʊn fəðə kˈaʊnt/
/dˌaʊn fɚðə kˈaʊnt/down for the count
[PHRASE]
What is the origin of the idiom "make a go of something" and when to use it?
The idiom "down for the count" is believed to have originated in the sport of boxing, where a boxer who is knocked down by their opponent must remain on the mat for a count of ten before they can continue the fight. This phrase is often used more broadly to describe a person who has been defeated or overcome, whether in a physical or metaphorical sense.
2
(of a boxer) knocked down and unable to stand up and continue the fight within the referee's ten-second count
Examples
1. The problem here is that this metal can conduct electricity, so even if our navigation equipment and electronics escape the aurora upstairs, it's probably down for the count now.
2. The team is down for the count after losing their star player to an injury.
3. He has been fighting the illness for weeks, and now he's down for the count.
4. The company is struggling to stay afloat, and it looks like they might be down for the count.
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