# Oliver

/ˈɑɫəvɝ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/oliver
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a person's name

noun · CEFR A1

a common first name for a man or a boy.

For teachers: a male given name of Germanic origin, widely used in English-speaking countries.

- Oliver is starting his first day of school tomorrow morning.
- The name Oliver saw a significant resurgence in popularity across the United Kingdom and Australia during the early twenty-first century.

### 2. drunk

adjective · CEFR C2 · British English · Slang · Informal

a slang word for being very drunk.

For teachers: intoxicated by alcohol. Derived from Cockney rhyming slang 'Oliver Twist', rhyming with 'pissed'.

- He had too many beers at the pub and ended up completely oliver.
- After four rounds of heavy drinks at the wedding reception, several of the guests were looking decidedly oliver.

Usage: Usually follows the verb 'to be'.

Teaching tip: This is very specific Cockney rhyming slang; most English speakers outside of London will not understand it unless they are familiar with the dialect.

## Examples

- Don't be such an Oliver and pay attention.
- He forgot his keys for the third time this week, acting like a total Oliver.
- While the term is often used affectionately among friends to mock a minor blunder, calling a stranger an Oliver in a heated argument can be seen as a genuine insult.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.