angry young man
angry young man
Pronunciation
IPA Phonetic Spelling:
/ˈæŋ.ɡri jʌŋ mæn/
Sound Breakdown by Syllable:
an-gry
an- (/æŋ/) - as in the "an" sound in "bank"
-gry (/ɡri/) - as in the "gri" sound in "green"
young
young (/jʌŋ/) - as in the "ung" sound in "sung"
man
man (/mæn/) - as in the "an" sound in "fan"
Word Form Variations
The term "angry young man" is primarily a noun phrase. Its variations are limited:
Singular: angry young man
Plural: angry young men
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun Phrase
Definition 1: A term, originating in the 1950s, used to describe a class of rebellious, disaffected, and often working-class male writers and playwrights in Britain who expressed disillusionment with traditional social and political structures.
Synonyms: rebel, iconoclast, nonconformist, dissident (in a literary/social context)
Antonyms: traditionalist, conformist, establishment figure, sycophant
Definition 2: More broadly, a young man who is openly resentful or frustrated with society, authority, or his personal circumstances, often expressing his feelings through rebellious behavior or outspoken criticism.
Synonyms: malcontent, firebrand, protester, agitator
Antonyms: contented youth, complacent individual, conformist, optimist
Examples of Use
In Books (Literature):
As a descriptive term for a literary movement: "The 'Angry Young Men' movement in British literature, exemplified by John Osborne's Look Back in Anger, gave voice to the disillusionment of a post-war generation." (Britannica)
Referring to characters within novels: "Jim Dixon, the antihero of Kingsley Amis's comic classic Lucky Jim (1954), epitomizes the 'angry young man' who subverts the conventions of university life." (Britannica)
In critical analysis of works: "Alan Sillitoe's novel Saturday Night and Sunday Morning (1958) focuses on Arthur Seaton, a boozy, hedonistic young factory worker, often cited as a classic angry young man figure." (Britannica)
In Newspapers and Online Publications (Journalism & Commentary):
Discussing historical movements: "Fifty years on, the legacy of the original 'angry young men' of British theatre continues to resonate, even as new generations find their own outlets for protest." (A newspaper article from a major British daily, e.g., The Guardian, circa 2006 for the 50th anniversary of Look Back in Anger)
Describing contemporary figures: "He's been labeled an 'angry young man' by critics, channeling the frustrations of his generation into sharp, often biting political commentary." (An online political commentary piece, e.g., The Atlantic, October 2023)
In film or TV reviews: "The documentary series Angry Young Men offers a close look at the personal side of Salim and Javed, exploring their relationships and how their scripts for films like Zanjeer and Deewaar introduced the 'angry young man' archetype to Indian audiences." (Medium, August 2024)
In Entertainment Mediums and Platforms (Film, Music, TV):
In Film: "The 'angry young man' trope came onto the scene as a working-class anti-hero in films like Look Back in Anger (1959) and Saturday Night and Sunday Morning (1960), but has recently morphed into a social villain, as seen in Joker (Joaquin Phoenix) and Star Wars's Kylo Ren (Adam Driver)." (The Take, July 2020)
In Music: "Billy Joel's song 'Prelude/Angry Young Man' (1976) from his album Turnstiles paints a slightly sardonic picture of youthful, militant rebellion." (Wikipedia, "Prelude/Angry Young Man")
In Television Drama: "The writings of the 'angry young men' were often expressed in plays in anthology drama series such as Armchair Theatre and The Wednesday Play, which gave a strong voice of anger and resentment of the common people to be heard." (Dudhnoi College, Angry Young Men)
In General Public Discourse:
Colloquial use to describe a person: "He's always been a bit of an angry young man, never content with the way things are, always questioning authority." (Informal conversation, general usage)
In political commentary: "The rise of online forums has given a platform to a new generation of angry young men, many feeling economically disenfranchised and politically unheard." (A discussion on a news podcast, January 2024)
In sports commentary: "After another frustrating loss, the coach acknowledged the team's 'angry young men' needed to channel their passion more constructively." (Sports analysis, April 2025)
10 Famous Quotes Using Angry Young Man
"There's a place in the world for the angry young man with his working-class ties and his radical plans."1 (Billy Joel, "Prelude/Angry Young Man," 1976)
"And he likes to be known as the angry young man." (Billy Joel, "Prelude/Angry Young Man," 1976)
"I suppose you're really — an angry young man." (George Fearon, Royal Court Theatre press officer, to John Osborne, May 1956)2
"People say that if you're still angry at 52, you're not an angry young man, just a grumpy old git." (Paul Weller)
"For a short time, the press wavered between calling the new rebels 'Outsiders' or 'Angry Young Men' but because the latter was more explicit, the gossip columns of the press referred to them as the 'angry young men' and so the name was established." (Colin Wilson, The Outsider, 1956)
"He will go to his grave as an angry old man." (Billy Joel, "Prelude/Angry Young Man," 1976)
"Jimmy Porter is the image of the "angry young man."3 (eNotes.com on Look Back in Anger)
"Even during the Suez Crisis, Osborne's bad-boy image had less to do with politics than with misogyny: in the Daily Mail, for example, he blustered, “What's gone wrong with WOMEN?” Anger, in the cultural imagination of the time, was a man's game.4 Ironically, the AYM myth's most surprising asset was Osborne himself, ever happy to play up to the role of being what writer Harry Ritchie calls “the angriest young man of the5m all”." (Aleks Sierz, "Angry Young Men," April 2010)
"Sometimes seeing everything just gets in the way. Chris Lynch, Angry Young Man." (Chris Lynch, Angry Young Man)
"The angry young men were a new breed of intellectuals who were mostly of working class or of lower middle-class origin."6 (Britannica)
Etymology
The phrase "angry young man" first popped up in Britain in the mid-1950s.
It wasn't a formal, pre-planned term. Instead, it emerged from a comment made by the Royal Court Theatre's press officer, George Fearon, in May 1956. He used it to describe John Osborne, the playwright whose play Look Back in Anger had just opened to great success. Osborne's play featured a character, Jimmy Porter, who was very outspoken and critical of British society.
So, the term initially stuck to John Osborne and, by extension, to the character he created. Soon after, it became a widely used label for a group of British writers, playwrights, and artists who shared a similar sense of disillusionment and rebellion against the established social and political norms of post-World War II Britain. They often came from working-class or lower-middle-class backgrounds and felt frustrated with the traditional class system and the lack of opportunities.
Essentially, it went from describing one specific writer to becoming the name of a whole literary and social movement that captured the mood of a generation.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Angry Young Man
Angry young man syndrome: (Refers to the general phenomenon or a recurring behavioral pattern of such individuals).
The original angry young men: (Referring specifically to the 1950s British literary movement).
A new breed of angry young man: (Suggests an updated or contemporary version of the archetype).
Channeling the angry young man within: (Figurative; implying someone is expressing a suppressed rebellious or frustrated side).
An angry young man's rant: (Describes a passionate, often critical, speech or tirade from such an individual).
Full of angry young man angst: (Describes a state of deep anxiety or dread, characteristic of this archetype).
Living the angry young man dream: (Sarcastic; implying a life of constant dissatisfaction or rebellion).
The angry young man archetype: (Refers to the established model or stereotype of this character).
A fit of angry young man rage: (Describes an outburst of intense anger, typical of the character).
The making of an angry young man: (Refers to the circumstances or experiences that contribute to someone becoming this type of person).
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of angry young man from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
