angry young man: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Literary, cultural, journalistic
Quick answer
What does “angry young man” mean?
A young man who is publicly angry about and critical of the established social and political order.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A young man who is publicly angry about and critical of the established social and political order.
A term, often used as a label, for a member of a generation of young, primarily male, writers and intellectuals in the mid-20th century who expressed disillusionment with traditional British society and its institutions. The meaning has broadened to refer more generally to any disaffected, rebellious young man, or to a type of character in literature and film embodying this attitude.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term originated in and is most strongly associated with British post-war cultural history (e.g., John Osborne, Kingsley Amis). In American usage, it is a borrowed term used to describe a similar archetype, often with less specific historical reference.
Connotations
In British English, it strongly connotes the specific 1950s literary movement. In American English, it may be used more loosely for any rebellious young male figure in arts or politics.
Frequency
Higher frequency in British English, particularly in historical/cultural analysis. Recognizable but less common in everyday American English.
Grammar
How to Use “angry young man” in a Sentence
[Subject] is/plays/portrays the angry young man.The angry young man [verb phrase criticizing society].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “angry young man” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The playwrights sought to angry young man the theatre establishment.
- He spent his twenties angry young manning in various leftist journals.
American English
- The novelist effectively angry young manned the suburban lifestyle.
- His column was just angry young manning without solutions.
adverb
British English
- He protested angry-young-manly against the new policy.
American English
- He spoke angry-young-manly about the injustices he saw.
adjective
British English
- He had a very angry-young-man vibe about him.
- The film was an angry-young-man manifesto.
American English
- She wrote an angry-young-man novel about corporate America.
- His angry-young-man phase lasted well into his forties.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly used metaphorically to describe a disruptive new executive or entrepreneur challenging industry norms.
Academic
Common in literary criticism, cultural studies, sociology, and history papers discussing post-war Britain, masculinity, or social protest.
Everyday
Uncommon in casual conversation. Might be used knowingly to describe someone's rebellious attitude.
Technical
Not applicable in STEM fields. A term in the humanities.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “angry young man”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “angry young man”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “angry young man”
- Using it to describe any young man who is simply in a bad mood (loss of the socio-political dimension).
- Misspelling as 'angery young man'.
- Using it for a violent criminal rather than an intellectual or artistic rebel.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, the original term was specifically masculine, reflecting the gender norms of the 1950s. While female writers of the era were also critical, they were not typically grouped under this label. Today, one might use terms like 'angry young woman' by analogy, but it is not a standard historical term.
Capitalization is used when referring specifically to the members of the identifiable British literary movement of the 1950s (the Angry Young Men). In its broader, more general sense as an archetype, it is usually written in lowercase (an angry young man).
It can be used descriptively or admiringly to acknowledge someone's challenging of corrupt or outdated systems. However, it can also be used pejoratively to suggest someone is immature, nihilistic, or all critique with no constructive ideas.
An 'angry young man' is a specific type of rebel, typically one who expresses his rebellion through intellectual, artistic, or rhetorical means, and is often associated with a particular historical and cultural context. 'Rebel' is a much broader term covering any form of defiance.
A young man who is publicly angry about and critical of the established social and political order.
Angry young man is usually literary, cultural, journalistic in register.
Angry young man: in British English it is pronounced /ˌæŋɡri ˈjʌŋ ˈmæn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌæŋɡri ˈjʌŋ ˈmæn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A chip on his shoulder”
- “Rage against the machine”
- “Kicking against the pricks”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of John Osborne's play 'Look Back in Anger' (1956) – the main character Jimmy Porter is the quintessential **Angry Young Man**.
Conceptual Metaphor
YOUTH IS A SOCIAL FORCE, ANGER IS A CATALYST FOR CHANGE, THE ESTABLISHMENT IS A TARGET.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'angry young man' MOST accurately used?