collect one's wits

English

Verb

collect one's wits (third-person singular simple present collects one's wits, present participle collecting one's wits, simple past and past participle collected one's wits)

1. Synonym of collect one's thoughts
   • 1922, Agatha Christie, “Chapter 16”, in The Secret Adversary:

     "He is coming to," remarked a voice very near Tommy's ear. He recognized it at once for that of the bearded and efficient German, and lay artistically inert. He felt that it would be a pity to come round too soon; and until the pain in his head became a little less acute, he felt quite incapable of collecting his wits.