tough act to follow

Someone or something so exemplary that it overshadows anything that follows. I don't know how Mel's replacement will be received by the staff. He was so admired and respected that he'll be a tough act to follow. That award-winning play will be a tough act to follow on Broadway.

tough act to follow

and hard act to follow

Fig. a difficult presentation or performance to follow or improve upon with one's own performance. Bill's speech was excellent. It was a tough act to follow, but my speech was good also. In spite of the fact that I had a tough act to follow, I did my best.

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Dymphna	DIMF-na	Irish
Helewidis	-	Ancient Germanic
Cystennin	-	Welsh
Dakota	də-KO-tə	English (Modern)
Hamlin	['hæmlin]
Amadeus	ahm-ə-DAY-əs (English), ahm-ə-DEE-əs (English)	Late Roman