Question

what is a "promised land"

Answer 1

It depends. In the Bible, the promised land refers to Canaan. It could also refer to a place/destination/state of absolute happiness/contentment.

Answer 2

Any place (or state of being) that is put up on a pedestal. Strictly, it means the land referenced as a holy destination in a religious book such as the Bible, Qu'ran, Torah, etc. But in English, it has evolved to be a theme. Like a character who is "looking for the promiseland" might be a character who is on a quest to find a happy, idealistic home that he can never seem to quite reach.