Down for the count

Origin: The idiom 'down for the count' originates from boxing, where a fighter who is knocked down must get up before the referee counts to ten. If the boxer remains on the ground, they are considered 'down for the count' and lose the match. Over time, this phrase has been adopted into everyday language to describe situations where someone is unable to continue or recover from a setback.

Examples

• After pulling three all-nighters in a row, Jenna was down for the count and slept through the entire weekend.
• When the company lost its biggest client, it felt like they were down for the count, but they managed to bounce back stronger.
• Despite his initial enthusiasm, Mark was down for the count after the marathon and could barely move for days.
• The flu hit Sarah hard, rendering her down for the count and unable to attend any meetings for a week.
• After the stock market crash, many investors were down for the count, facing significant financial losses.
• The relentless criticism from the media left the politician down for the count, questioning his future in politics.
• The team's star player was down for the count after a severe injury, leaving them to finish the season without him.
• With their project deadline missed and budget exceeded, the startup seemed down for the count until a new investor came in.
• Following the intense negotiation, both parties were down for the count and needed a break before continuing discussions.
• After the grueling exam week, most students felt down for the count and couldn't wait for the holiday break to recuperate.