Word.ws English Dictionary

a Roland for an Oliver

a Roland for an Oliver noun: equal measure; measure for measure; adequate response.

Noun

a Roland for an Oliver (plural Rolands for Olivers)

  1. (idiomatic) Equal measure; measure for measure; adequate response.
    • Mr. Godwin has lately attempted an answer to the Essay (thus giving Mr. Malthus a Roland for his Oliver) but we think he has judged ill in endeavouring to invalidate the principle, instead of confining himself to point out the misapplication of it.1825, William Hazlitt, “Mr. Malthus”, in The Spirit of the Age […] , London: Printed for Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC
    • It was rather a ticklish matter to go into politics, but he [Hart] might speak on them generally, knowing that if he overstepped the mark he would be brought up standing. His friend on the right had a respected relative in the Ministry, and if he trod on his corns, or did what he should not, he...1870 May 21, “Complimentary Dinner to Captain [John] Hart, M.P., C.M.G.”, in The South Australian Register, volume XXXIV, number 7339, Adelaide, S.A., →OCLC, page 5, column 5

Adverb

a Roland for an Oliver (not comparable)

  1. (idiomatic) So as to respond to an action with an equivalent action; tit for tat.
    • He responded to the insult a Roland for an Oliver, striking back just as hard.

Synonyms of a Roland for an Oliver

Forms of a Roland for an Oliver

pluralRolands for Olivers

Origin of a Roland for an Oliver

From the stories of Roland and Oliver, legendary knights of equal might.

Questions about a Roland for an Oliver

What does a Roland for an Oliver mean?
A Roland for an Oliver means equal measure; measure for measure; adequate response.
What part of speech is a Roland for an Oliver?
A Roland for an Oliver can be a noun or an adverb.
What is the plural of a Roland for an Oliver?
The plural of a Roland for an Oliver is Rolands for Olivers.

Words near a Roland for an Oliver in the dictionary

  1. A ring
  2. A rings
  3. a rising tide lifts all boats
  4. A road
  5. A roads
  6. a Roland for an Oliver
  7. A roll
  8. a rolling stone gathers no moss
  9. A rolls
  10. a roo loose in the top paddock
  11. a sharp

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: a Roland for an Oliver (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

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