I cannot sleep, so I start to count sheep.
count sheep
idiomTo attempt to go to sleep by thinking of something boring, traditionally by counting imaginary sheep.
Origin
disputed originSee count and sheep. Stories of counting sheep to sleep extend back to at least as early as 12th-century Spain and 13th-century Italy from prior Arab stories.
When I wake up in the middle of the night, I count sheep to help my mind relax.
Despite his exhaustion, he lay awake for hours, fruitlessly counting sheep in a desperate attempt to drift into slumber.
- 01
black sheep
A nonconformist; an unusual or unconventional person, who may be rejected or disdained by others for this reason.
- 02
count angels on pinheads
To focus on obtaining the correct details of something which are largely irrelevant or unimportant.
- 03
count noses
To count people one at a time.
- 04
count one's blessings
To focus one's attention on the circumstances of one's life which are pleasant or fortunate, especially with the intention of diverting one's thoughts from serious or disagreeable matters.
- 05
count one's days
To prepare for imminent retribution or termination.
- 06
count to five
Synonym of count to ten.
- 07
count to ten
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.
- 08
count to three
Synonym of count to ten.