Phrasal verb
count against
Definition
phrasal verb. to be a disadvantage to you or make people have a lower opinion of you.
phrasal verb. to be considered a negative factor or disadvantage in an assessment of someone's merit or suitability.
Examples
“His lack of experience might count against him.”
“The committee decided that her previous criminal record would count against her during the final selection process.”
“While the candidate's technical skills were impressive, his inability to demonstrate collaborative leadership during the interview ultimately counted against him.”
Examples
simple
“His lack of experience might count against him.”
contextual
“The committee decided that her previous criminal record would count against her during the final selection process.”
complex
“While the candidate's technical skills were impressive, his inability to demonstrate collaborative leadership during the interview ultimately counted against him.”
Usage
the subject is usually a fact or quality, and the object is the person being disadvantaged.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'work against' (more general) and 'hold against' (implies a personal grudge or specific blame); 'count against' is common in formal evaluations and interviews.
Pitfall
His lateness counted him against.
His lateness counted against him.
this phrasal verb is inseparable; the object must follow the particle 'against'.
Phrasal verb
Particles
against
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
count + against + object
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/count-against