take the count

idiomatic phrase

of a boxer
: to lose by a knockout : to be counted out
McAlinden was outrageous with some of his wild hay-makers against Dunn before he took the count.Tim Mo

Word History

First Known Use

1895, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of take the count was in 1895

Dictionary Entries Near take the count

Cite this Entry

“Take the count.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20the%20count. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on take the count

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!