down for the count—
1. (of a boxer) knocked down and unable to get back up for the count of ten:
- West went down for the count, lying motionless on the floor.
2. soundly defeated:
- The conservatives appeared to be down for the count. Yesterday they failed to win a vote of no confidence.
out for the count—
1. = down for the count 1:
- Now that Nuruddin is within punching distance, he’ll put him out for the count.
2. = down for the count 2:
- Diversity and multi-culturalism are by no means out for the count in the School of Public Health.
3. unconscious:
- I was out for the count. Before I lost complete state of consciousness, I felt my cell phone slipping out of my hand.
4. very fast asleep:
- I knew the children were tired. Look at them. They are both out for the count.