down-for-the-count

IPA/dˌaʊnfəðəkˈaʊnt/
IPA/dˌaʊnfɚðəkˈaʊnt/

down-for-the-count — idiom

1. completely defeated or beaten, with no strength or chance left to recover or kee

1.慣用語C1
釋義

completely defeated or beaten, with no strength or chance left to recover or keep going.

例句

After losing three big clients in one month, the design studio seemed down for the count.

seem + down for the count (of a business)

One more failed harvest could leave the village farm down for the count.

leave + something + down for the count

同義詞
  • finished

    plain and common; means no longer able to continue or succeed

  • out of the running

    focuses on having lost the chance to compete or win

  • beaten

    stresses being defeated by an opponent or a problem

反義詞

文法句型

be + down for the count

seem + down for the count

leave + someone/something + down for the count

用法筆記

Almost always figurative outside the boxing ring — describing a person, business, team, or plan that looks finished. Distinguish from sense 2, which is the literal boxing knockdown.

常見錯誤

❌The team is down to the count after the loss.
✅The team is down for the count after the loss.
💡the fixed phrase uses 'for', not 'to'.
❌She is down for count after the bad news.
✅She is down for the count after the bad news.
💡keep the article 'the' before 'count'.

2. in boxing, knocked to the floor and still unable to stand up by the time the ref

2.慣用語C2
釋義

in boxing, knocked to the floor and still unable to stand up by the time the referee finishes the ten-second count.

例句

The champion stayed down for the count after a powerful punch to the jaw.

stay + down for the count after a punch

Referee Cyrus waved the match over once the fighter was down for the count.

同義詞
  • knocked out

    the fighter is unconscious or completely unable to continue

  • counted out

    the referee's count has ended and the fighter loses the bout

反義詞

文法句型

be + down for the count

go + down for the count

stay + down for the count

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1: this literal use describes a fighter physically unable to rise during the referee's count, while sense 1 is the figurative 'completely defeated' meaning used outside the ring.

常見錯誤

❌The boxer was down for the count of ten.
✅The boxer was down for the count.
💡do not add 'of ten'; the count is already part of the phrase.