I thought he was "counting his chikens"

what does the phrase in quotes mean. It`s not meant to be literal

It is part of the expression

"counting one's chickens before they hatch", which is a metaphor for unwise optimism, or not allowing the possibility of some things going wrong.

I NOT UNDERSTAND YOUR QUESTION SORRY

The phrase "counting his chickens" is an idiomatic expression that means someone is assuming or expecting a favorable outcome before it has actually happened. It implies that the person is overly confident and prematurely counting or relying on a positive result.

To understand idiomatic expressions like this, you can follow these steps:

1. Context: Consider the context in which the phrase is used. In this case, it suggests that someone is being too confident about an outcome.

2. Literal meaning: If you take the phrase literally, it implies someone is counting their actual chickens to determine how many they have. However, the phrase is not meant to be taken literally.

3. Figurative meaning: Idiomatic expressions often convey a figurative or metaphorical meaning, which may require understanding the culture, history, or common usage behind the phrase. In this case, it means someone is making assumptions about future success or outcomes without any real assurance.

By analyzing the context and understanding the figurative meaning, you can interpret idiomatic expressions like "counting his chickens" correctly.