# shut one's eyes and think of England

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/shut-ones-eyes-and-think-of-england
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

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

## Examples

- She just shuts her eyes and thinks of England to get through it.
- In the past, many women felt they had to shut their eyes and think of England during intimacy with their husbands.
- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.