closing one's eyes and thinking of England

Verb

close one's eyes and think of England (third-person singular simple present closes one's eyes and thinks of England, present participle closing one's eyes and thinking of England, simple past and past participle closed one's eyes and thought of England)

1. To accept one's duty patriotically, particularly (idiomatic, euphemistic) to endure sex (sexual activity) under a concept of sex as solely a marital and reproductive duty.
   • I am happy now that Charles calls on my bedchamber less frequently than of old. As it is, I now endure but two calls a week and when I hear his steps outside my door I lie down on my bed, close my eyes, open my legs and think of England.1912, Alice Marion Mills, Journal (attrib.)