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Candice In Canada Posted 21 years ago
Vocabulary

down for the count

what does"down for the count' mean?
  

Top answer

I believe its a boxing term. When one boxer is KO'd (viz. Knocked Out) the referee stands over him and counts to ten, thus the term 'down for the count'.

— Lionheart

  • I believe its a boxing term.
  • When one boxer is KO'd (viz.
  • Knocked Out) the referee stands over him and counts to ten, thus the term 'down for the count'.
  • If the unconscious boxer does not pick himself up off of the canvas, then the match is over and the other boxer is declared the winner.
  • It could also come from the world of wrestling.
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5 Answers
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I believe its a boxing term. When one boxer is KO'd (viz. Knocked Out) the referee stands over him and counts to ten, thus the term 'down for the count'. If the unconscious boxer does not pick himself up off of the canvas, then the match is over and the other boxer is declared the winner. It could also come from the world of wrestling. If one wrestler pins another wrestler's shoulders to the
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o,yeah~i heard it from tv, but not a boxing subject. it is a mother lose control to her children, then the other said she is down for the count. but it is also a good explaination for a mother just can't do anything with her children just like a boxer can't stand up.
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Interesting. I've mostly heard "out for the count".

MrP
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Interesting. I've never heard "out for the count". Isn't language funny?

--Lionheart
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I've only heard out for the count, too. Clearly another divide between different versions of English.
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