Count Out for Dummies

Count out is a phrase that we use when we want to talk about excluding someone or something. Let's say you and your friends are playing a game of soccer, but there's one friend who is always left out and never gets to play. That means he is being counted out, or excluded from the game. It's like when you have a group of people and you start counting, but when you reach a certain number, someone gets left out and doesn't get to continue the counting. So, when we say "count out," it's like saying "leave someone or something out."

There's another meaning of "count out" that we should also talk about. Sometimes, we use this phrase to describe a situation in which we are unable to do something because we don't have the right resources or abilities. Imagine you are baking a cake and you realize you don't have any eggs. Without eggs, you won't be able to make the cake, so you have to count out the idea of making a cake. It's like saying that something is not possible because you are missing an important part or ingredient.

In a nutshell, when we talk about "counting out" someone or something, we mean excluding them or leaving them out. It could be a person not being included in a group or activity, or it could be a situation where we can't do something because we are missing a necessary part. So, when you hear someone use the phrase "count out," you'll know they are talking about someone or something being left out or excluded.