tall order

Idioms  

1. 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]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tall order

Convincing him to run for Senate, then—especially given that he has worked for Collins and maintained a good relationship with her—would be a tall order, though no doubt many are trying.

From Slate ● Jul. 7, 2026

Going toe-to-toe with the Parisians over the long term, though, remains a tall order for a club which has readily embraced its underdog status.

From BBC ● Apr. 10, 2026

Replacing armies of professional analysts who spend years studying specific companies, industries or asset classes is a tall order.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 7, 2026

That’s a tall order for a compact book, especially given its subject’s long, complicated life.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 17, 2026

And changing the world is a tall order for someone who is just trying to survive each day.

From "The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl" by Stacy McAnulty

Related Words

• arduous
• challenging
• intimidating
• onerous
• powerful
• tough
• tremendous