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2005.09.21(Review of 2004.06.23 edition)

Hi! Have you ever had to give a presentation after a really brilliant speaker? Humbling, isn't it?

Today's WordMaster is a neat, idiomatic way of talking about this situation!

Today's LessonCATEGORY: イディオム
TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW
真似できないほどすばらしい事柄/人

Explanation

  • A tough act to follow or a hard act to follow is something or someone that is so good that it will be difficult for anyone or anything that comes later to be as good.
  • tough act to follow または hard act to follow は、他の人が真似できないほどすばらしい事柄・人をさします。

examples

  1. (two employees)
    a: Have you heard that Mr. Tanaka is retiring as president?
    b: Yes, I have. He's made this company into the most profitable in the industry. He'll be a tough act to follow.
  2. (an audience member at a conference)
    Wow! What a great talk! It'll be a tough act to follow.
  3. No one has ever matched Wendy's success as a fundraiser since she left. Hers was a hard act to follow.
  4. (TV announcer at the Olympics)
    The Romanian gymnast has received a perfect 10! Now that's going to be a very hard act to follow!

英会話レッスンToday's edition may be a tough act to follow, but we hope you'll join us again tomorrow. You'll be glad you did!