collect (one's) thoughts



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collect (one's) thoughts

To pause and think before speaking or taking action. Can I please just have a second to collect my thoughts before I respond? Susie paused to collect her thoughts and come up with a tactful response to her seething sister.
See also: collect, thought

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Martinemar-TEEN (French), mahr-TEE-nə (Dutch)French, Dutch, Norwegian
Dobroslav-Croatian, Serbian, Czech, Medieval Slavic
AndrzejAHND-zhayPolish
Meshullam-Biblical, Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew
RosamundROZ-ə-mundEnglish (Rare)
AshlynnASH-linEnglish (Modern)