Phrasal verb
count out
To count out means to decide someone or something has no chance of success.
Meanings
to decide that someone or something will not succeed
to exclude someone from an activity, plan, or group
to count items one by one and hand them over as a set amount
Definition
If you count out a person, team, or idea, you stop believing they can succeed. People often do this too early, before seeing the final result. It can also mean to leave someone out of a plan or group, or to count and give the exact number of items, such as money.
Examples
- Don’t count out our team just because we started slowly.
- She counted him out after the first interview, but he got the job.
- They counted out the smaller shops when they planned the event.
- I counted out twenty tickets and put the rest back in the drawer.
Common mistake
Learners often confuse "count out" (exclude or dismiss) with "count on" (rely on).
More phrasal verbs
- go on To go on means to continue or keep happening.
- carry out To carry out something means to do it or complete it, especially a plan, task, or instruction.
- set up To set up means to arrange or prepare something so it is ready to use or happen.
- pick up “Pick up” most commonly means to collect someone or something from a place, usually by going there.
- go back To go back means to return to a place, time, or earlier situation.