count sheep en · VERB
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Etymology
See 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.
Meanings
- (idiomatic) To attempt to go to sleep by thinking of something boring, traditionally by counting imaginary sheep.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| counts sheep | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| counted sheep | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| counted sheep | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| counting sheep | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic |
Translations (7)
mk бро́и о́вци (to attempt to go to sleep by thinking of something boring) · fi laskea lampaita (to attempt to go to sleep by thinking of something boring) · pl liczyć barany (to attempt to go to sleep by thinking of something boring) · cmn 數羊 /数羊 (to attempt to go to sleep by thinking of something boring) · pl liczyć owce (to attempt to go to sleep by thinking of something boring) · fr compter les moutons (to attempt to go to sleep by thinking of something boring) · de Schäfchen zählen (to attempt to go to sleep by thinking of something boring)