Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. fashionable, well-dressed.

1864, 1867, 1870

Hotten Sl. Dict. 67: ALL THERE, in strict fashion, first-rate, ‘up to the mark.’.

2. honest, reliable.

1847		Adelaide Obs. (SA) 8 May 2/2: He had certificates of character to shew that ‘he was all there,’ which his Worship declined perusing, by saying, with much gravity, ‘No, I'm much obliged to you’.
1858		A. Mayhew Paved with Gold 97: I could see he were all there, and a rare bit of stuff.
1864, 1867, 1870		Hotten Sl. Dict.
1874		M. Clarke Term of His Natural Life (1897) 275: You will find us rough, Mr Meekin, [...] but you’ll find us ‘all there’ when we’re wanted.
1883		J. Payn Thicker than Water II 43: It was his excusable boast, though expressed in somewhat vulgar language, that when anything was wanted he was ‘all there’.
1924		G.H. Lawson Dict. of Aus. Words And Terms 🌐 ALL THERE — Expression of praise.

3. as desired, satisfactory.

1847		Bell’s Life in Sydney 13 Feb. 2/3: ‘My oath,’ as a snug turfite is apt to repeat, ‘he was all there’.
1856		Bell’s Life in Sydney 29 Nov. 2/7: Mr Brenan - Was the champagne good, Captain? Capt Baxter - Yes sir-ree. Mr Brenan - And the brandy too? Capt B. - Yes, the brandy was all thar, too .
1860		Hotten Dict. of Modern Sl. etc. (2nd edn).
1863		Geelong Advertiser (Vic.) 2 Apr. 3/1: Upston was all there as wicket keeper, as well as Williamson and O’Dwyer at bowling.
1872		G.P. Burnham Memoirs of the US Secret Service iv: All There, to be on time, on hand, ‘up to the mark’.
1879		‘’Arry on the Road’ in Punch 9 Aug. 83/1: If there’s any fun to the fore, you’ll find ’Arry all there.
1882		Sydney Sl. Dict. (2 edn) 1: All There - Up to the mark. A term of encomium. Sometimes, ‘All the way there’.
1885		Referee 15 Jan. in Ware (1909) 243/2: Mrs Saker has done great things at the Liverpool Alexandra with ‘Aladdin’, the scenery and company being alike excellent. Miss Jenny Hill is all there, as she ever was.
1888		‘’Arry at a Radical Reception’ in Punch 12 May 219/1: I saw by the looks of the ladies [...] that ’Arry was simply all there.
1890		London Dly News 1 Feb. 4/7: When we are tired of crying ’A1’ we may say ‘the cheese’ or ‘all there’ or ‘up to the knocker’ or ‘down to the ground’.
1895		C. Crowe Aus. Sl. Dict 3: All There, up to the mark.
1903		Truth (London) 18 June 1678/3: Slang terms: The Al, all-there, awful, bang-up, bully.

4. smart, aware.

1860		Bell’s Life in Sydney 9 June 3/3: The dodge was no go, Mrs Wright was ‘all there’ .
1860		Ovens & Murray Advertiser (Beechworth, Vic.) 31 Oct. 3/1: The chaps in the banks will join the ranks / And think themselves ‘all there’.
1864		Derby Day 42: ‘Throw your teeth at a stuffed donkey,’ exclaimed the trainer. ‘Don’t you talk to me; I’m all there, don’t you make a mistake, guv’nor.’.
1881		‘’Arry on Fashion’ in Punch 10 Sept. 110/1: I tell you we’ve got to be in it, all there like, or go to the wall.
1895		‘’Arry and the [...] Lady Cyclists’ in Punch 15 June 285/1: It took me aback for a jiff, th’ of course I was speedy all there.
1909		Gem 23 Jan. 9: He’s all there, pard. He’s up to snuff.
1911		Gem 25 Nov. 18: For Fatty Wynn was ‘all there’.
1914		Sport (Adelaide) 18 Dec. 5/2: If Charlie goes to punch his head / He’ll find that Matt’s all there.
1916		Tamworth Herald 30 Dec. 2/4: He was a small wiry nimble personality, very friendly and very ‘cute’. He was ‘all there’.
1956		H. Gold Man Who Was Not With It (1965) 18: I wanted to be with it someday like Grack, all there, hard, dark, and sure of himself.

5. sane, in one’s right mind.

1891		T.B. Reed Cock House Fellsgarth 27: ‘I heard Yorke just now ask Denton if he thought Fisher’s minor was all there’.
1901		Free Lance 27 Apr. 79 1: She was all there, and when she found that robbery was meant she made a stout resistance [F&H].
1920		‘Sapper’ Bulldog Drummond 25: I suppose you think that I’m hysterical [...] You’re probably even wondering whether I’m all there.
1936		J. Curtis Gilt Kid 240: ‘What’s the matter with you, mad?’ ‘No, I’m all there.’.
1958		A. Sillitoe Sat. Night and Sun. Morning 149: ‘He must be all there,’ his mother said about her brother, pointing to her temples, ‘to make the money he makes.’.
1997–2001		Online Sl. Dict. 🌐 all-there adj 1. sane.
1998		J. Hoskison Inside 132: Although slow, they were mentally ‘all there’.