Cloud cuckoo land

Feifei This is The English We Speak, with you Neil…

Neil … and you, Feifei. Hello everyone.

Feifei Ah Neil, it sounds like you’re in a good mood.

Neil You’ll never find me in a bad mood Feifei. Why?

Feifei Well I wanted to ask you a favour.

Neil Oh yes?

Feifei I need to leave early today and wondered if you could finish this programme on your own and then start writing another script?

Neil Are you joking? If you think I’m going to do all my work and yours, then you are living in cloud cuckoo land!

Feifei Where is that exactly? I can assure you I live in London.

Neil Yes I know that. What I mean is that you are silly to think the impossible is possible. That’s living in cloud cuckoo land. Basically, you are misguided to think I can do my work AND your work. OK?

Feifei OK Neil, if you say so. Neil thinks I’m silly to believe he can do his work and mine - but we’ll see!

Neil Let’s hear some examples shall we, while you visit cloud cuckoo land!

Examples

If my teacher thinks I can do my grammar homework and learn all my new vocabulary tonight, then he’s living in cloud cuckoo land!

If you think we’re going to win this match with only ten players, then you’re living in cloud cuckoo land!

He’s clearly living in cloud cuckoo land - how can we ever afford to buy a house with the little money we earn?

Feifei So living in cloud cuckoo land describes a situation where someone thinks doing something impossible is possible. So it’s about someone being unrealistic?

Neil Exactly. Like you wanting to go home early and me doing all your work. Ridiculous!

Feifei Well Neil, if you think I’m going to sit here and miss out on front row seats at the theatre, then YOU are living in cloud cuckoo land.

Neil Oh, so you’re off to the theatre, leaving me to finish the programme!

Feifei I am Neil. See ya.

Neil Oh. Well everyone, today’s programme is about the phrase ‘living in cloud cuckoo land’ and it appears I am in it! Bye for now.