hard act to follow

== English == === Etymology === Originally referring to an outstandingly successful vaudeville act. === Noun === hard act to follow (plural hard acts to follow) A performance that is so outstanding that it is unlikely to be equalled. ==== Synonyms ==== tough act to follow ==== References ==== Eric Partridge (1992), “act to follow”, in A Dictionary of Catch Phrases, Rowman & Littlefield, →ISBN, page 1: “Originally, and probably before 1920, referring to an outstandingly successful vaudeville act which might well cast a shade over the following act, but since at least 1930, applied to any outstanding performance or especially able person.”