Idiom: a tough act to follow

Definition

idiom: a tough act to follow

to be so good that the next thing after it doesn’t seem as good in comparison.
to do something so well that others coming afterward feel intimidated that they can't do as well.

— I hope the teacher lets me give my speech first because Tony is always a tough act to follow.

— That appetizer was delicious. The main course is going to be a tough act to follow.

— It's too bad we stayed in a five star hotel in the first city because it will be a tough act to follow during the rest of the tour.

— I thought Nadia's performance would be a tough act to follow but yours was far better.

— Our oldest two children earned scholarships to Ivy League schools so it's a tough act for our youngest to follow.

— The first candidate's presentation was so thorough, it's really going to be a tough act to follow for the rest of the applicants.

— My goodness! He just jumped 2.00 meters in the high jump—that's going to be a very tough act to follow.

— The first two tennis matches today were amazing so they're going to be tough acts to follow.

— My sister always is a tough act to follow because she's naturally good at everything.