Glossary entry

English term or phrase:

sell it like Olivier

English answer:

be convincing like Lawrence Olivier

Added to glossary by janejira
Jan 12, 2016 18:33
8 yrs ago
English term

sell it like Olivier

English Art/Literary Poetry & Literature Thriller Fiction
A suspected told about what happened on the day of attack and got released. Two detectives talked about his statement

"It's a good sounding story, and he sold it like Olivier, but he's lying"

What does the name Olivier mean in this context? Has it some connotation?

Thank you in advance, all life savers!
Votes to reclassify question as PRO/non-PRO:

Non-PRO (2): Yvonne Gallagher, Ildiko Santana

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Discussion

Jonathan MacKerron Jan 12, 2016:
@Janejira Looks like you've posted the same question twice, please delete one of them.

Responses

+4
2 mins
Selected

be convincing like Lawrence Olivier

an English stage actor known for his excellent stage performances.
Note from asker:
Thank you very much, Jonathan. You are so resourceful!!!
Peer comment(s):

agree philgoddard : Beat me to it.
1 min
agree Robert Carter : sell it = be convincing, rather than persuasive IMO, although there's only a slim nuance.
1 hr
agree Yvonne Gallagher : sp. Lau.. but think "convincing" is better
3 hrs
agree Cilian O'Tuama : you were faster, so you beat PG at his own game
6 hrs
neutral Edith Kelly : Spelling would be "Laurence", the Lawrence with a w is the Arab fellow.
12 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
+3
3 mins

He was as persuasive as Sir Laurence Olivier

It's a rather odd simile to use, but presumably refers to the speaking skills of the actor Sir Laurence Olivier.
Peer comment(s):

agree Charles Davis : If you want to be first, keep the explanation to the minimum. And you deserve the agree for (a) providing a reference and (b) spelling Laurence correctly (and giving his title, though he was ultimately Lord Olivier, not that that matters).
2 mins
Thanks :-) It's so often a tradeoff between being quick and sounding authoritative.
agree Edith Kelly
12 hrs
agree katsy
22 hrs
Something went wrong...
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