out for the count unconscious or soundly asleep.
☞ A North American variant of the phrase is down for the count. In boxing, the count is the ten-second period, counted out loud by the referee, during which a boxer who has been knocked to the ground may regain his feet: if he fails to do so he must concede victory to his opponent. A boxer who manages to rise within the count of ten is said to 'beat the count'.