You may have heard the phrase “close your eyes and think of England” and wondered about its meaning. This reference explains the expression’s origin and provides examples of how it’s used. It also explores other phrases with similar meanings. By reading this reference, you will gain insight into when and why the phrase is used. This brief guide will give you clear insight into the world of linguistic expressions like this one.
“Close Your Eyes and Think of England” Meaning, Origin and Usage
Key Takeaways
- The phrase “close your eyes and think of England” is an old-fashioned, somewhat cynical expression that refers to enduring something unpleasant or undesirable by focusing on a larger duty or responsibility.
“Close Your Eyes and Think of England” Meaning
The phrase “close your eyes and think of England” historically referred to enduring an unpleasant experience, especially within the context of marital obligations, such as sex, with a focus on duty rather than personal enjoyment. It implies tolerating something uncomfortable by mentally detaching or thinking about something else, often out of a sense of obligation or duty.
In modern times, the phrase is often used humorously or sarcastically to describe putting up with any unpleasant or tedious situation by mentally distancing oneself from it.
Examples:
- “The dentist appointment was a bit uncomfortable, but I just closed my eyes and thought of England.”
- “During the long meeting, I had to close my eyes and think of England to get through it.”
Origin of this idiom
The saying is believed to have originated in Victorian England when women were expected to always meet their husbands’ needs, regardless of what they wanted themselves. There is some speculation that the saying was coined by Queen Victoria when asked about bedroom advice by one of her daughters, but there is no solid evidence to back this up. Some people believe that the saying was originally coined in order to encourage wives who were trying to get pregnant, the term referred to the keeping the population of England going.
Usage of “Close Your Eyes and Think of England”
- In a humorous context:
“I really didn’t want to go to the dentist, but I just had to close my eyes and think of England while he worked on my teeth.”
- Talking about a tedious task:
“Filing taxes can be such a boring process, but sometimes you just have to close your eyes and think of England to get through it.”
- Sarcastically referring to an uncomfortable situation:
“The long family dinner was so awkward, I just closed my eyes and thought of England until it was over.”
- In a work setting with an unpleasant duty:
“When my boss asked me to redo the report for the third time, I had to close my eyes and think of England.”
Related Terms to “Close Your Eyes and Think of England”
- Bite the bullet – to endure a painful or difficult situation with courage and determination.
- Grin and bear it – to endure a difficult situation while trying to maintain a positive attitude.
- Suck it up – to accept or endure something unpleasant without complaint.
- Take it on the chin – to accept adversity or criticism without complaining.
- Soldier on – to continue doing something in a determined way despite difficulties.
- Roll with the punches – to adapt to difficult situations as they arise.
- Put on a brave face – to act as if one is feeling fine or happy when one is not.
- Endure and persist – to bear something difficult while continuing to move forward.
- Keep a stiff upper lip – to maintain a courageous or stoic attitude in the face of adversity.
- Just get through it – to endure a situation with the goal of reaching the end, regardless of discomfort.
Other Ways to Say the Phrase
There are other ways you might imply the use of this saying, some of the options to do this might be;
- Lie back and think of England
- Lie still and think of a new way to trim a hat.
- Endure an unpleasant task
“Close Your Eyes and Think of England” Examples
You might use the saying ‘close your eyes and think of England’ when giving advice to a friend who is trying to conceive a baby, for example you could say something along the lines of ‘I know you’re probably sick of trying now but you really want a baby so just close your eyes and think of England.’
Conversation examples:
There are many instances where you might want to use this saying and here are a couple of examples of conversations where the term might appear.
Conversation 1:
- Person 1: “I really don’t want to sit through this three-hour training session.”
- Person 2: “It’s mandatory, isn’t it?”
- Person 1: “Unfortunately, yes.”
- Person 2: “Well, just close my eyes and think of England until it’s over.”
Conversation 2:
- Employee: “I can’t believe we have another long staff meeting this afternoon.”
- Coworker: “I know. I’d rather be working on my projects.”
- Employee: “Same here, but we have to attend.”
- Coworker: “Then let’s just close my eyes and think of England and get through it.”