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  What it means

  Literally “dream factory,” this idiom refers to Hollywood or, more broadly, the film industry as a whole. It evokes the idea that cinema manufactures illusions and transports audiences into worlds of fantasy. In everyday Polish it is used both admiringly and ironically: “Znów lecę do fabryki snów” might mean a genuine trip to Hollywood or a sarcastic remark about formulaic blockbusters. It is also sometimes applied to any place or institution that trades in optimistic promises.

  Vocabulary

  • fabryka — factory
  • snów — of dreams (genitive plural of 'sen' — dream, sleep)
  • sen — dream; sleep

  Grammar note

  'Snów' is the genitive plural of 'sen,' used here in a possessive/descriptive relationship ('factory of dreams'). Polish genitive plurals are often irregular; 'sen' → 'sny' (nominative plural) → 'snów' (genitive plural). The whole phrase is a noun phrase where 'fabryka' is the head noun.

  Cultural context

  The phrase is a calque of the English 'dream factory,' itself a classic Hollywood nickname. Polish film critics and journalists use it frequently when discussing American cinema, though it occasionally describes the Polish film industry in Warsaw as well. The tone ranges from affectionate nostalgia to mild cynicism depending on context.

  Beginner

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