take the (long) count
1. dated To lose a boxing match by being counted out. Everyone was shocked when the heavyweight champion took the long count in the second round, raising suspicions that he had thrown the fight.
2. dated To lose or fail; to be knocked out of competition. It's just another in a long line of businesses to take the long count ever since the economy started to crash. A lot of people expected them to take the long count after the first round of the tournament, but here they are, one win away from a shot at the championship.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
take the (long) count
Sl. to die. (Fig. on a boxer being counted out and losing a fight.) The poor cat took the long count at last. I'm too young to take the count.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
take the count
(of a boxer) be knocked out.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
take the count
verbMcGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
take the count
1. To be defeated.
2. Sports To be counted out in boxing.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.