counted me out

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "counted me out" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to someone being excluded or not considered in a situation, often implying that they were underestimated or overlooked. Example: "When the team was formed, they counted me out, but I proved them wrong by leading the project to success."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

"A lot of people counted me out," Dixon said.

The New York Times - Sports

"There's a lot of people who counted me out," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

"Some counted me out and said to drop out," she said.

The Guardian

A full transcript is at nytimes.com/politics: " You know, some people counted me out and said to drop out.

The New York Times

"You know, some people counted me out and said to drop out," said a glowing Hillary at her Philadelphia victory party, with Bill and Chelsea by her side.

The New York Times

"A lot of people counted me out," Bolt said.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

"Then count me out".

The New Yorker

"Count me out," he said.

The Guardian - Opinion

"I know people were counting me out," Witty said.

The New York Times - Sports

Aaron used to say, 'Count me out, man.

The Guardian - Books

"Don't count me out," he said recently of his chances against Mr. Klitschko.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "counted me out" to emphasize overcoming adversity or proving doubters wrong. It adds a personal touch and highlights resilience.

Common error

Ensure you use the correct tense. "Counted me out" is past tense, so use it when referring to a past event where someone underestimated you. Avoid using it when you mean someone will underestimate you; use "will count me out" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "counted me out" functions as a declarative statement, expressing the speaker's perception of being underestimated or dismissed by others. Ludwig examples show this phrase used to highlight subsequent success after being overlooked.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Sports

33%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "counted me out" is a grammatically sound expression used to convey that one has been underestimated or disregarded. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While not exceptionally common, it appears frequently enough in news and media contexts to be considered familiar. It is often used to highlight stories of resilience, where someone defies expectations and achieves success after being dismissed. Alternatives include "underestimated me" or "wrote me off". When using this phrase, ensure the tense aligns with the intended meaning and that it is appropriate for a neutral register.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Underestimated me

Focuses on the misjudgment of one's abilities.

Discounted me

Emphasizes the act of disregarding someone's potential.

Wrote me off

Suggests a premature conclusion about one's prospects.

Didn't believe in me

Highlights a lack of faith or confidence in someone.

Didn't take me seriously

Focuses on not being regarded with the appropriate level of respect or consideration.

Left me out

Emphasizes exclusion from a group or opportunity.

Didn't include me

Similar to 'left me out', highlighting the act of omission.

Overlooked me

Implies being missed or not noticed.

Didn't expect me to succeed

Directly addresses the low expectations of one's success.

Thought I would fail

Emphasizes the anticipation of failure.

FAQs

How can I use "counted me out" in a sentence?

You can use "counted me out" to express that others underestimated you or didn't expect you to succeed. For example, "They "counted me out", but I proved them wrong."

What does "counted me out" mean?

"Counted me out" means that someone didn't consider you a factor, didn't believe in your abilities, or dismissed your chances of success.

What are some alternatives to saying "counted me out"?

Alternatives include "underestimated me", "wrote me off", or "didn't believe in me". Each phrase carries a slightly different nuance, so choose the one that best fits your context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "they counted me out"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. "Counted" is the past tense of "count", and the phrase follows standard English sentence structure.