promised land
1
6.0
- noun
- /ˈprɑːmɪst lænd/
- For many artists, a major exhibit in New York City is considered the promised land of their profession.
- reach the promised land
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Watch on YouTubeSometimes, you know, if I'm strong enough to, you know, get to the promised land that I know is inside of my heart.
- Sometimes, you know, if I'm strong enough to, you know, get to the promised land that I know is inside of my heart.
- So the search for the promised land can be a journey of a group of people for various reasons.
- The real problem is dealing with themselves surviving their promised land.
Examples
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America was seen as a promised land for the poor and politically oppressed from all corners of the world.
Academic text (1990) -
We seem to be on a constant and futile chase after the promised land of lasting happiness.
Blog text (27) -
So the search for the promised land can be a journey of a group of people for various reasons.
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Welcome to the promised land.
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I even thought it might be the promised land.
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I guess it's my personal promised land now.
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Come, let me take you by the hand, and lead you to a promised land.
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But I want you to know tonight that we, as a people, will get to the promised land.
Academic text (2003) -
As far as they were concerned, this was their home, their promised land, to which they were, in a spiritual sense, returning.
Academic text (2013) -
We learn about the promised land in the New World, the economic opportunities there, and the Pilgrims' hopes for religious freedom.
Academic text (1999)
Synonyms
301
4.0
A place or state of perfect happiness and peace
196
1.0
A very happy and peaceful state
20
6.8
A place or state that has great happiness and peace
20
7.9
A very peaceful happy state with no worry or pain
16
9.8
An imaginary perfect, peaceful place where people feel very happy and safe
3
6.2
A place or state where you reach great happiness after effort
How Ideal
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly derivable from the constituents: 'promised' = something pledged or guaranteed and 'land' = a place, so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer a place that has been promised and therefore expected to bring fulfillment. This metaphorical extension (a place of hope or fulfillment) is common cross-linguistically (e.g., Spanish 'tierra prometida') and follows straightforward compositional logic, making it transparent.
Etymology
Promised land comes from the Bible, where God promised the Israelites a new land as a safe home after a long journey. That strong picture of finding a place of 'hope' and 'rest' after struggle explains why today promised land means a place or situation people expect will bring 'happiness' or 'fulfillment'.