count to ten

count to ten  {v. phr.},  {informal}
To count from one to ten so you will have time to calm down or get control of yourself; put off action when angry or excited so as not to do anything wrong.
Father always told us to count to ten before doing anything when we got angry.
Compare: KEEP ONE'S HEAD.
Contrast: BLOW A FUSE, FLY OFF THE HANDLE.
Categories: informal time verb
Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms

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