Roland for an Oliver

9.9

Two people or groups are evenly matched and respond equally to each other

idiom

Archaic

: un empate

The chess match was truly a Roland for an Oliver, with both players displaying equal skill.

Examples

Whenever they argue, it's always a Roland for an Oliver; neither side ever backs down.
In business, competition between those companies has become a Roland for an Oliver.
The debate turned out to be a Roland for an Oliver.
In the final match, it was truly a Roland for an Oliver.
The chess match was truly a Roland for an Oliver, with both players displaying equal skill.
In business, competition between those companies has become a Roland for an Oliver.
Whenever they argue, it's always a Roland for an Oliver; neither side ever backs down.

Synonyms

tug-of-war

vsRoland for an Oliver

Informal

13 3.2

A hard struggle between two groups for power or control

focuses on even balance and mutual response rather than a power struggle

nip and tuck

vsRoland for an Oliver

Informal

2 8.1

Very close and evenly matched until the end

is about two sides evenly matched, each giving as good as the other

How Evenly Matched

dead heat

20 6.7

Roland for an Oliver

Archaic

9.9

Surface Forms

Roland for an Oliver singular

Rolands for an Olivers plural

Morphology

Roland + for + an + Oliver

The meaning 'two people or groups evenly matched' cannot be derived from the literal constituents 'Roland', 'for', 'an', 'Oliver' — the phrase is an allusive idiom based on proper names and historical/literary reference. Knowing basic words like 'for' and 'an' gives no clue to the idiomatic sense, so a B1 learner who only knows the parts would not predict the meaning.

Etymology

Roland for an Oliver may come from a story about two famous knights, Roland and Oliver, who fought so evenly that each blow was met by an equal answer. That image of two equal fighters explains why the phrase means 'evenly matched' or 'giving as good as they get'.