tall order

Idioms and Phrases

A goal that is hard to fulfill or achieve, as in Getting a thousand new subscribers is a tall order indeed . This expression uses tall in the sense of “impressively great” or “difficult.” [c. 1900]

Example Sentences

But getting the right people together in one place is often a tall order, and could be why some of these films arrive decades after the last one.

From Los Angeles Times

The arithmetic of doing so – recovering from the Conservatives’ worst ever election defeat and overturning a Himalayan Labour majority – looks a tall order, but so volatile is the electorate you never know.

From BBC

But she went on to say that it would still have been a "tall order" to win, adding that the party "should have kept Boris".

From BBC

Sam Farmer’s pick: The Chargers are going to be solid this season, but holding serve against the Chiefs — without suspended Derwin James — is a tall order.

From Los Angeles Times

The Chargers are going to be solid this season, but holding serve against the Chiefs — without suspended Derwin James — is a tall order.

From Los Angeles Times