count on/upon somebody/something phrasal verb (
see also count)
1. to depend on someone or something, especially in a difficult situation:
You can count on me. With luck, you might cover your costs, but don’t count on it.count on (somebody/something) doing something We’re all counting on winning this contract. They were counting on him not coming out of hospital.count on somebody/something to do something You can count on Dean to ruin any party.2. to expect something:
The presence of Paula was one thing he hadn’t counted on.count on (somebody/something) doing something We didn’t count on so many people being on vacation. [TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲