count to ten

Idioms

Calm down, get hold of oneself. For example, Before you tell him what you think of him, count to ten. Often used as an imperative, this phrase in effect means that if one takes the time to count from one to ten one can regain one's composure.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Additionally, most children leave preschool able to identify a few, if not all, letters and count to ten.

From Slate • Jul. 22, 2021

He can’t count to ten without using his fingers.

From Salon • Feb. 6, 2019

She remembers studying the language for a year — she can count to ten and sing a song — before being pulled out of school to work.

From Time • Aug. 16, 2017

The girls soon learned how to count to ten in Italian.

From The New Yorker • Apr. 3, 2017

Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath and count to ten, trying to get a handle on what I came here to ask her.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023