Phrasal verb
count out
Definition
phrasal verb. to decide that someone or something is not included in a plan or activity.
phrasal verb. to exclude someone or something from a group, activity, or consideration; often used when the subject feels they cannot participate or when a possibility is dismissed.
Examples
“If you are going hiking in the rain, count me out.”
“The team had to count out their star player for the final match due to a sudden knee injury.”
“While many analysts have dismissed the startup's chances of success, it would be a mistake to count them out of the race just yet.”
Examples
simple
“If you are going hiking in the rain, count me out.”
contextual
“The team had to count out their star player for the final match due to a sudden knee injury.”
complex
“While many analysts have dismissed the startup's chances of success, it would be a mistake to count them out of the race just yet.”
Usage
often used in the first person to decline an invitation or in the passive voice to show exclusion.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'count on' (to rely on) to show how the particle changes the meaning from inclusion/reliance to exclusion.
Pitfall
Please count out me.
Please count me out.
when the object is a pronoun like 'me', it must go between the verb and the particle.
Phrasal verb
Particles
out
Separability
optional
Pattern
count + object + out
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/count-out