
IdiomDaily Life
English
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.
Example: “The retiring principal will be a hard act to follow.”
Origin: From vaudeville and variety shows in the early 20th century, where a performer booked after a very popular act struggled to impress the audience. The phrase became common from the 1970s.
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.
Explore another collection: Compliments & Insults
Compliments and insults from around the world, from the sweet to the savage.
- Dickkopf A pig-headed, unyielding person — their skull is so thick no new idea can penetrate it.
- 空気が読めない (kūki ga yomenai) Completely oblivious to the unspoken social mood — the person who kills the atmosphere wi…
- 눈치가 없다 (nunchi ga eopda) Hopelessly socially oblivious — can't pick up on emotional cues, awkward silences, or uns…
Keep exploring