Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. delightful, really excellent; often in ironic use.

1845		J. Lindridge Sixteen-String Jack 83: I’ll be squashed if she didn’t give him the lovliest spat in the peepers that iver I saw in all my born or unborn days.
1911		Alaska Citizen 28 Aug. 7/2: He was a lovely twostepper but said none of the bunch could keep step with him.
1923		D. Hammett ‘The Gatewood Caper’ Story Omnibus (1966) 137: ‘I’m going to call these people’s bluff!’ ‘That’s going to make it really lovely for your daughter.’.
1942		R. Chandler High Window 206: I had just offered to buy the doubloon [...] and Morningstar had taken up the offer, thinking he could get the coin from Phillips, make himself some money and everything lovely.
1967		J. Wynnum I’m a Jack, All Right 32: This is a lovely mess, this is.

2. (UK Und.) suitable and ready for criminal action.

1865		Leaves from Diary of Celebrated Burglar 14/1: His next affair was, when everything was ‘lovely,’ to give us the ‘office’ by putting a straw under the door.
1872		G.P. Burnham Memoirs of the US Secret Service 350: ‘Ish’t alls right?’ ‘All’s lovely,’ said Johnny.