hard act to follow
Meaning: A person or thing that is so good that the person or thing that follows may not measure up to the same standard.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Category: Daily Life
Origin: The expression probably originates from the time of vaudeville when a show consisted of several acts, each by different actors. It was hard to succeed if one's act followed another that was extremely popular, because the audience would compare the two and expect the second act to measure up to the high standard of the first.
More idioms — Daily Life
- hard row to hoe — A difficult task.
- have it made — To have no problems; to have achieved success.
- hear something through the grapevine — To hear a rumor that may or may not be true.
- hem and haw — To hesitate to say something directly.
- hit pay dirt — To find something of great value.
- hit the jackpot — To get rich or find something of value.
More English idioms
- hit or miss — Unplanned or random; equally likely to succeed or fail.
- hit the sack — To go to bed.
- hit the spot — To satisfy in just the right way.
- hitch a ride — To solicit a ride in someone's (a stranger's) car; to hitchhike.
- not hold a candle to someone — Not equal to someone or something; when two persons or things are compared, the first one…
- hold one's horses — To stay calm or be patient when someone wants to hurry.
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