They're GR-R-REAT!

“They’re GR-R-REAT!” is best known as the catchphrase of Tony the Tiger, the animated advertising mascot for Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes (called Frosties in some markets). The line became widely familiar through mid-to-late 20th-century television commercials in which Tony enthusiastically endorses the cereal, often after children express doubt or ask about its taste. Although frequently treated as a free-floating “anonymous” exclamation in popular culture, it originates in commercial advertising copy and performance rather than in a literary or political context, and it is closely tied to the brand’s long-running marketing campaign.

The phrase is a stylized, emphatic declaration of approval. The elongated “GR-R-” mimics a tiger’s growl, fusing character identity with a simple evaluative claim (“great”). Its effectiveness lies in its sonic memorability and performative enthusiasm: it’s less an argument than an affective cue that signals fun, confidence, and kid-friendly excitement. In broader usage, the line functions as a shorthand for exaggerated endorsement, often invoked ironically to parody advertising hype or to express playful, over-the-top praise for something mundane.

1) “They’re g-r-e-a-t!”
2) “They’re grrreat!”
3) “They’re Grrreat!”