takes the count
Stays down, boxing
Takes the count means to be knocked out in boxing—when a fighter goes down and the referee counts to ten without the fighter rising.
Extended to any decisive defeat or failure: After three startups collapsed, he finally took the count and got a regular job.
Someone who takes the count has been beaten thoroughly, often implying they won't recover or try again.
- knockoutIncapacitating final blow
- out coldFully unconscious
- lights outMandatory sleep time
- unconsciousnessComplete lack of awareness
- failureLack of success
corner · referee · dizziness · blackout · standing eight · collapse · technical knockout · fatigue · submission · exhaustion · injury · acquiescence · immobility · gloves · bout · ring · boxing match · weakness
resilience/recovery
takes the countgets up
Rises from rest
fights back · bounces back · weathers the storm · stands tall · endures