think of England

English

Pronunciation

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Verb

think of England (third-person singular simple present thinks of England, present participle thinking of England, simple past and past participle thought of England)

1. (idiomatic, euphemistic) Clipping of close one's eyes and think of England and its variants.
   • 1982, Bernard Cornwell, chapter 19, in Sharpe's Company, London: HarperCollins, published 1994, →ISBN, pages 187–188:

     He inspected the ridged tips, spotted a piece of dirt, and spat on the instrument, wiping it dry on his sleeve. ‘Right! Hold still, think of England!’ He pushed the forceps into the wound, following the track of the probe, […]

   • 1987, William Rushton, Spy Thatcher, London: Pavilion, →ISBN, page 119:

     A strange white-faced man with wild eyes, toupee at a rakish tilt, twisted by cramp, armed with a Lee Enfield. I sloped arms stiffly and marched out of his life; shouting as I left, ‘Don't do it, whatever it is! Lie down, and think of England!’

   • 2005, A. Housemate, quoting Abi Titmuss, The Wit and Wisdom of Reality TV, London: Orion, →ISBN, page 101:

     Do I have to have sex? All right, I'll do it for Britain. I'll think of England.

   • 2012, Margaret James, The Penny Bangle, Harpenden: Choc Lit, →ISBN, page 43:

     But Robert had been cheeriness itself, had told them to buck up and think of England, reminding them that moaning wasn’t going to beat the Jerries.