Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. knowledgeable, aware, esp. of a criminal scheme.

1835		G. Kent Modern Flash Dict.
1843		R.S. Surtees Handley Cross (1854) 99: You must be all alive in fact. Not an ’oss must die in the district without you knowin’ of it.
1848		Flash Dict. in Sinks of London Laid Open 96: Alive, awake, fly, up, leary, acquainted with.
1854		‘Cuthbert Bede’ Adventures of Mr Verdant Green (1982) II 158: Old Towzer, the Senior Proctor, in particular, is sure to be all alive.
1900		Flynt & Walton Powers That Prey 215: Some are ‘dead’ and can do nothing more profitable than ride on their passes; others are half ‘dead’ and are equal to but little more than arresting tramps and train-jumpers; and others are very much ‘alive’.
1972		D. Jenkins Semi-Tough 207: There was nobody ‘alive,’ she said. ‘Nothing is happening.’.

2. (US Und.) well off, wealthy.

1933		Ersine Und. and Prison Sl.
1949		Monteleone Criminal Sl. (rev. edn).

3. (UK und.) used of a house that has lights on or people at home (thus unsuitable for robbery).

1935

Thieves Slang ms list from District Police Training Centre, Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Warwicks 5: Its alive: House with light in [sic] or occupied.

4. (UK Und.) attached to a burglar alarm [SE alive, charged with electric current].

1959

‘Screwsman’s Lament’ in Encounter n.d. in Norman Norman’s London (1969) 68: Drummer takes a butchers, and sees it ain’t alive / Then we whip it down the apples and cart it down the drive.

5. (US prison) well-off.

1960

(con. 1950-1960) R.A. Freeman Dict. Inmate Sl. (Walla Walla, WA) 2: Alive – well supplied with lucre.