ENGLISH
REFERENCE

shut one's eyes and think of England

idiom
Meaning

Alternative form of close one's eyes and think of England: to accept unwanted sex due to social pressures.


Examples
SIMPLE

She just shuts her eyes and thinks of England to get through it.

CONTEXTUAL

In the past, many women felt they had to shut their eyes and think of England during intimacy with their husbands.

COMPLEX

The historical literature often depicts a stoic endurance where the protagonist would simply shut her eyes and think of England, suppressing her own discomfort to satisfy societal expectations.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    abound in one's own sense

    To follow one’s own inclinations and opinions.

  2. 02

    ace up one's sleeve

    A surprise advantage of which others are not aware.

  3. 03

    act one's age

    To behave in a manner appropriate to one's age.

  4. 04

    act one's age, not one's shoe size

    Synonym of act one's age (“to behave in a mature manner; to avoid being childish”).

  5. 05

    afraid of one's own shadow

    Exceptionally timid.

  6. 06

    air one's dirty laundry in public

    To reveal one's sordid secrets to the public.

  7. 07

    air one's dirty linen in public

    Synonym of air one's dirty laundry in public.

  8. 08

    albatross around one's neck

    A characteristic, possession, associate, or previous deed that hinders one's ability to succeed.

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