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.
Antonym: BLOW A FUSE, FLY OFF THE HANDLE.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲