counting to ten

Verb

count to ten (third-person singular simple present counts to ten, present participle counting to ten, simple past and past participle counted to ten)

1. (idiomatic, informal) An expression used to describe or recommend a process for pausing to regain one's composure when one is on the verge of losing one's temper.
   • There is a temptation at this point to jump up and down, shouting about how often you have asked about that point. Instead, count to ten.1994 June 10, Kay Ewbank, “Computers: Confessions of a database designer”, in Independent, UK, retrieved 10 Jul 2015