Idiom:  Count sheep

Illustration of a very tired woman in bed at 1:55 AM with little numbered sheep jumping over her head with the definition of the idiom, count sheep, and a sentence example.

Meaning

Idiom:  count sheep

  • to imagine sheep and count them jumping over a fence as a way to make yourself go to sleep


Example sentences

— Last night I was counting sheep for at least 20 minutes before I finally gave up and started reading a book.

— Counting sheep has never worked for me but it's a technique that works for many others.

— I knew I was becoming fluent when I started counting sheep and dreaming in French.

— Doctor, I've already tried counting sheep.  Could you please write me a prescription?

— I heard my husband muttering something and thought he was talking in his sleep but he said he was counting sheep.

— Every night I count sheep for a few minutes before I go to sleep.

— My son has a hard time counting sheep so I make him warm milk when he can't fall asleep.

— I counted sheep up to 10,001 and then I must've fallen asleep.

— I'd studied until 2 AM and couldn't fall asleep. After trying to fall asleep for awhile, I was really surprised when I noticed I was counting sheep in French.


You might like these other idioms

Water idioms

Sleep idioms

Dog idioms

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