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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.

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Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms

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