count on (someone or something)
1. To use one's fingers to count. She can already count on her fingers, even though she's only two years old! I can count on one hand the number of times he's offered to help me. Yes, I am counting on my fingers because my brain is absolute mush after that three-hour meeting.
2. To put one's trust in someone or something (to do something). We're counting on you to handle this problem, Janet. I know I can count on this old truck to get me anywhere I need to go. Come on, now that we're in office, we have to get things done! The average person counts upon their elected officials to improve things in this world!
3. To depend or rely on someone or something (to do something). You can't be so quick to quit your job, now that you've got a family who's counting on you. A lot of people count on these welfare payments to get by each month. We're the only grocery store around here, so the whole town counts on us for their food.
4. To be able to reliably expect something (to happen or be the case). I wouldn't count on the senator continuing to support you after everything that's happened. We hadn't counted on the health inspector showing up so early. Don't bother rushing around because you can always count on Tammy to be late.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
count (up)on someone or something
to rely on someone or something. (Upon is formal and less commonly used than on.) Can I count upon you to do the job? You can count on me.
count on someone or something
to rely on someone or something; to depend on someone or something. We can count on Bill to get the job done. Can I count on this car to start every morning of the year?
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
count on
Also, count upon. Rely on, depend on, as in You can always count on Kent to be punctual, or Carol was counting upon getting a raise in spring. [First half of 1600s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
count on
v.1. To rely or depend on someone or something: I was counting on getting a raise when I made the decision to purchase a house.
2. To be confident of something; anticipate something: We are counting on a great vacation this summer.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.