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Reader question: Please explain this sentence: “Modern day movies are down for the count – We have a KO! Classics win! Classics win!” Down for the count? KO? My comments: Here the speaker uses boxing analogies to set up a scene in a match between modern-day movies and Hollywood classics. Result of the match? Classics won by a KO, or a knockout punch. To wit, the speaker thinks classic Hollywood movies are much better than what’s on show currently in the theater near you. Or as the speaker metaphorically puts it, classics win by a knockout – decisively. Knockout, of course, describes the situation where a boxer is knocked down to the floor and isn’t able to get up again. In a real boxing match, you see, when a player is knocked down on the floor, or canvas, the referee steps in to take a count from “One!” to “Ten!” According to rules, if the boxer is able to stand up before the count to ten, then he’s allowed to continue to fight. If he’s unable to get back to his feet, then he loses the match, with victory going to the winner, who is described as winning by KO, knockout – meaning knocking his opponent out. Actually, in most matches today, the rules are that he has to get back to his feet and demonstrably shows that he’s fully conscious before the count of “Eight!” instead of “Ten”. Anyways, this sequence of dramatic events bring up a few boxing phrases that have been accepted into general language. And these include the KO, “down for the count”, “down and out” and, more encouragingly, “down but not out”. | 
