a Roland for an Oliver

English

Etymology

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

Noun

a Roland for an Oliver (plural Rolands for Olivers)

(idiomatic) Equal measure; measure for measure; adequate response.
- 1825, William Hazlitt, “Mr. Malthus”, in The Spirit of the Age […] , London: Printed for Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC:
  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.
- 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:
  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 would, as he had often done before, give him a Roland for an Oliver.
- 1878, Robert Louis Stevenson, “Crabbed Age and Youth”, in Virginibus Puerisque and Other Papers, London: C[harles] Kegan Paul & Co., […], published 1881, →OCLC, pages 91–92:
  It is held to be a good taunt, and somehow or other to clinch the question logically, when an old gentleman waggles his head and says: "Ah, so I thought when I was your age." It is not thought an answer at all, if the young man retorts: "My venerable sir, so I shall most probably think when I am yours." And yet the one is as good as the other: pass for pass, tit for tat, a Roland for an Oliver.
- 1919, W[illiam] Somerset Maugham, chapter XL, in The Moon and Sixpence, [New York, N.Y.]: Grosset & Dunlap Publishers […], →OCLC, page 201:
  I had to bite my lip to prevent myself from laughing. What he said had a hateful truth in it, and another defect of my character is that I enjoy the company of those, however depraved, who can give me a Roland for my Oliver.

Synonyms

Adverb

a Roland for an Oliver (not comparable)

(idiomatic, not comparable) 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.