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sell it like Olivier

English translation: be convincing like Lawrence Olivier

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:sell it like Olivier
Selected answer:be convincing like Lawrence Olivier
Entered by: janejira

18:33 Jan 12, 2016
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / Thriller Fiction
English term or phrase: sell it like Olivier
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!
janejira
Local time: 18:55
be convincing like Lawrence Olivier
Explanation:
an English stage actor known for his excellent stage performances.
Selected response from:

Jonathan MacKerron
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +3He was as persuasive as Sir Laurence Olivier
philgoddard
2 +4be convincing like Lawrence Olivier
Jonathan MacKerron


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


2 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5 peer agreement (net): +4
sell it like olivier
be convincing like Lawrence Olivier


Explanation:
an English stage actor known for his excellent stage performances.

Jonathan MacKerron
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 80
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you very much, Jonathan. You are so resourceful!!!


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
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
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3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
He was as persuasive as Sir Laurence Olivier


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


    Reference: http://htts://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurence_Olivier
philgoddard
United States
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 50

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
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
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