count against

British  

verb

1. (intr, preposition) to have influence to the disadvantage of

   your bad timekeeping will count against you

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count against Idioms  

1. Be disadvantageous to, as in His earnings this year will count against his Social Security benefits. This idiom uses count in the sense of “make a reckoning,” in this case negative. [Early 1900s]

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Example Sentences

The British squad have not let that count against them, though.

From BBC • Feb. 11, 2026

Imports - which count against growth - continued to decline during the period.

From BBC • Jan. 18, 2026

In a 1-and-2 count against Isaac Collins, he left a fastball down the middle that was hammered for a single.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 7, 2025

Kraven bombed at the box office last year, though, which could count against him.

From BBC • Feb. 21, 2025

She was pure of heart and deed; she only kicked shins in self- defense, so that couldn't count against her.

From "The Westing Game" by Ellen Raskin