The phrase originally comes from the song "The Kids Are Alright" written by Pete Townshend as part of the English rock band The Who in 1965. While it is not clear that Pete Townshend or The Who intended for this expression to have any profound meaning within the context of their own song, the phrase has been referenced numerous times across all forms of media, usually with the meaning or connotation that "the young generation are doing okay and are going to be just fine".

The phrase, as originally coined by The Who, has been referenced in songs by the Offspring, Fall Out Boy, Bad Religion, Urge Overkill, Lagwagon, Local H, AWOLNATION, The Parlor Mob, Robbie Williams, Kylie Minogue, Chloe x Halle, and more. The title of the song was also used as the title of a film and is referenced in the titles of numerous television episodes (e.g. That 70's Show, Supernatural, Ballers, and The Simpsons). It was also used in the Final Fantasy VII novel The Kids Are Alright: A Turks Side Story, the novel having various references to The Who. It is also frequently used in various political headlines and discussions about issues affecting the younger generations.

Adult 1: "I found out yesterday that my kids have never heard of The Who. They thought the expression 'the kids are alright' was invented by someone named Chloe x Halle."

Adult 2: "I'm dying. The words you speak are killing me deep in my heart."

Adult 1: "But then they asked if I would buy them a Led Zeppelin t-shirt."

Adult 2: "Ya know.... maybe the kids are alright."

The Kids Are Alright by Geno 4P July 27, 2021

alrighty beans

A portmanteau of "alright" and "cool beans". "Cool beans" was a popular slang term in the 1970s used to express something pleasant occuring. The phrase "alrighty beans" means "ok" or "alright".

John: Alrighty beans! Let's go see some whales!
Jane: I'm whaley excited!

alrighty beans by Treelore Jones February 3, 2022

abright

(adj.) Unintelligent, dim-witted, foolish, slow to understand.

Derived from the Greek privative prefix a- (meaning "without") and bright.

Speak slowly when you're talking with Richard, he's abright.

abright by Thyme9 September 16, 2013

Alright Big Andy

Big Andy is a god that likes to embarrass you by making you repeat something that someone has already said pretty much straight after you have said it

Nathan : “what time is it?”
Bob: “2:50am”
Seconds after

Molly: “what time is it?”
Nathan + Bob : “alright big Andy”

Alright Big Andy by created by Firefighters kids January 12, 2021

the not as great but still pretty alright war

a long and convoluted way of saying World War 2

hey i'm researching about the not as great but still pretty alright war

the not as great but still pretty alright war by DAMEN CARMEN November 3, 2020

God Shot

A chance happening with profound meaning, an unexpected blessing, a "sign".

Dr. Drew on Celebrity Rehab said "All of a sudden what had been just another Hollywood proposal became for him an unexpected blessing, an opportunity for growth. In drug recovery language, that's called a "God shot."

God Shot by Imogen1564 February 25, 2011

Word of the Day on September 18, 2026

city chicken

A food native to Pittsburgh/Western Pennsylvania in which cubes of pork and/or veal are put on a short, wooden skewer, breaded, then baked and/or fried.

I've heard that city chicken originated during the Great Depression, when folks didn't have enough money to buy full cuts of meat, so they assembled meat scraps on a wooden skewer, creating a make-shift drumstick. Hence the name.

Are yinz havin' city chicken for dinner?

city chicken by TRF August 31, 2006

Word of the Day on September 17, 2026

Is that cake?

Another way to say is this fake? Like the show real or cake

“Slayyyter just announced another album last night”
“No way, is that cake?”
“Yeah whoops this isn’t real”

Is that cake? by Sexyyred September 15, 2026

Word of the Day on September 16, 2026

just fokin missing her

native american reservation origin... to miss an ex so badly that everyone can see it.. can be used for either sex eg. just fokin missing her/him

friend : *noticably sad*
me : look at you all sad & shit
friend : shut up!
me : just fokin missing her huh?

just fokin missing her by d i z k o 2 0 8 September 14, 2026

Word of the Day on September 15, 2026

endwarfins

The rush of neurotransmitters and neuropeptides triggered specifically by watching the Seven Dwarfs march home singing "Heigh-Ho" — that particular high of pickaxes, whistling while you work, and communal domestic bliss in a cottage built for men half your height.

I only meant to watch the Heigh-Ho scene for the endwarfins, and then it was two hours later and I'd watched the whole movie.

Endwarfins aren't just a Snow White thing — I get the same hit off the Lollipop Guild in Oz.

endwarfins by Howard Ogden September 13, 2026

Word of the Day on September 14, 2026

caillou

A slang term used to describe a bald person, typically someone who is completely bald or has a closely shaved head. The term is derived from the infamous, hairless kids’ cartoon character of the same name.

Example 1:
“Did you see that caillou over there? His head is reflecting the sun like a disco ball.”
Example 2:
“I think Dave is finally accepting his hair loss. He just went full caillou and shaved the whole thing off.”

caillou by WMH01 September 12, 2026

Word of the Day on September 13, 2026