La-la land

https://downloads.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/features/tews/170314_tews_la_la_land_download.mp3

Summary

La-la land is sometimes used as the informal name for Los Angeles but 'la-'la land' has another meaning which Rob explains in this programme and discovers that this is somewhere Feifei might be heading to!

Transcript 

Rob Hello, I'm Rob…

Feifei…and I'm Feifei and this is The English We Speak.

Rob Feifei, you've travelled all over the world but have you ever been to la-la land?

Feifei Ha – you mean Los Angeles – the city of angels. It's an amazing place, full of film stars!

Rob Sounds great and you're very clever – la-la land is the informal name for Los Angeles… but there is another la-la land.

Feifei And where is this other la-la land?

Rob It's usually in someone's head! Like our boss – he wants me to write all these scripts, edit them and make him a cup of tea – by the end of the day. He really is living in la-la land!

Feifei Our boss is living in la-la land – but the last time I checked he was living in London!

Rob Well Feifei, if someone is living in la-la land it can also mean they are in a fantasy world where they believe impossible things might happen – but they are being unreasonable and not being realistic.

Feifei Just like our boss.

Rob Someone in la-la land doesn't really understand how things really are – take a listen to these examples…

Examples She's clearly living in la-la land – how can we ever afford to buy a house with the little money we earn?

My boyfriend's living in la-la land if he thinks I'm going sailing with him – I get seasick!

Feifei That's la-la land – a phrase to describe someone who is unreasonable or out of touch with reality. I know the feeling – I've got lots of work to do too and I'm going on holiday tomorrow… I don't suppose you could help me?

Rob Feifei you really are living in la-la land – I've told you I haven't got any time.

Feifei Ah well, I just thought I'd ask.

Rob Anyway, where are you off on holiday to this time?

Feifei Can't you guess?

Rob
La-la land?

Both
Bye!