“Big shoes to fill” is an idiomatic expression that means that someone has been placed under high expectations and responsibilities due to either a predecessor’s high skill level or the value given to a position that someone obtained.
Perhaps you just got this new job or a promotion at work. Your boss could say that you have big shoes to fill, which means that you have a huge challenge ahead of you, and you shouldn’t disappoint.
Instead of always using the phrase, you can upgrade the scope of your lexes by choosing to say it another way, which is the very aim of this article. With this list of 25 other ways to say “big shoe to fill,” you can improve your expression.
A List Of 25 Other Ways to Say Big Shoes to Fill
- High bar to meet.
- Tough act to follow.
- Hard footsteps to follow.
- Major role to step into.
- Large legacy to uphold.
- Great expectations to live up to.
- A high standard to maintain.
- Lofty benchmark to reach.
- A tough precedent to follow.
- Huge responsibility to carry.
- Big shoes to step into.
- Enormous shoes to fill.
- Monumental challenge to undertake.
- Great reputation to live up to.
- Heavy mantle to carry.
- Huge expectations to satisfy.
- Giant legacy to continue.
- Immense pressure to perform.
- Major responsibility to assume.
- A tall order to match.
- Tremendous expectations to meet.
- Imposing shadow to emerge from.
- Grand legacy to follow.
- Substantial challenge ahead.
- Formidable example to live up to.
High bar to meet.
There is a way to communicate that the person before you has set high standards or achieved a lot, and the expectation is that you must meet these high standards.
This alternative phrase is that it compares the situation to a benchmark in sports, where the next person has to reach the same or a higher level of performance.
Tough act to follow.
The interpretation of this phrase is that perhaps the previous person performed so well that it will be difficult for anyone else to come close to matching their success.
This phrase stands out because it is often used in the context of performances, where the “act” was so impressive that any following performance would pale in comparison.
Hard footsteps to follow.
“Following in someone’s footsteps” is a metaphor for continuing their legacy or success.
If the footsteps are “hard to follow,” it means that the person before has made such significant strides that it will be difficult to replicate or surpass their achievements.
A smart way to inform your successor about the task they have before them is by saying this.
Major role to step into.
How does this help substitute for the phrase “big shoes to fill?” The previous role holder performed so well or contributed so much that taking on that role feels like a large and overwhelming task.
What better way to make a person aware of the huge responsibility before them?
Large legacy to uphold.
A legacy refers to the impact or reputation someone leaves behind. When you say there is a “large legacy to uphold,” what you mean is that the previous individual’s contributions were so significant that there is pressure to maintain their level of excellence and preserve their reputation.
Although it is advisable to always forge your path and methods, you still have a legacy to continue.
Great expectations to live up to.
With a phrase like this, you are communicating the external pressure placed on the new person (your successor, employee, etc..).
The previous individual was so accomplished that others have set high expectations for the newcomer, who must now “live up to” those achievements.
Improve your vocabulary by making use of this alternative phrase to say “big shoes to fill.”
A high standard to maintain.
Just like “high bar to meet,” this phrase explains the meaning that the previous person set an exemplary standard.
The pressure now is to keep that level of excellence going, as there is no room for decline or underperformance.
Not to seem like you are placing too much pressure on the person, be cautious of your tone, and be more gentle when saying it.
Lofty benchmark to reach.
In this context, the word “benchmark” refers to a standard of quality or achievement. While the inclusion of the word “lofty” benchmark means it’s exceptionally high, making it difficult to reach.
This suggests that the person before you has accomplished something extraordinary, making it hard to achieve. Just so you know, just because it is difficult does not mean that it is achievable.
A tough precedent to follow.
A precedent is an action or decision that sets a standard for others to follow. When that precedent is described as “tough,” it means that the previous person’s decisions have set the bar so high that it will be challenging to exceed them.
It also gives voice to the thought that it is a “tough” precedent and not just one that is easy or a little difficult.
Huge responsibility to carry.
The focus of this phrase is on the weight of the role or task, placing emphasis on the burden or pressure that comes with taking over from someone who was highly successful.
In addition, it means that stepping into their position brings a great deal of responsibility, both for continuing their legacy and maintaining their standards.
Big shoes to step into.
A close variation of “big shoes to fill,” this phrase sheds light on the act of stepping into a role previously held by someone significant.
The image of “big shoes” highlights that the person before had great achievements or skills, making it difficult for the successor to fit into the same role comfortably.
Enormous shoes to fill.
One reason this phrase is a good substitute for the idiom “big shoes to fill,” is that it amplifies the original idiom by using “enormous,” which intensifies the idea that the previous person’s accomplishments or reputation were exceptional.
The size of the shoes symbolizes how large and difficult the task is, further addressing the high expectations of the successor.
Monumental challenge to undertake.
A “monumental challenge” in this expression is used to describe that stepping into the role is not just difficult, but overwhelmingly so.
If you aim to speak or write about the fact that the previous person’s performance was so remarkable and that succeeding them feels like an immense task, requiring great effort and skill, this would be a good way to articulate it.
Great reputation to live up to.
Another important element of succeeding a position or role is the idea of maintaining a good reputation. Well, this phrase centers on the idea of reputation.
The previous person built a strong, positive reputation, and the new person must work to “live up to” that, meaning they must match the expectations that have been set by the predecessor’s achievements.
Heavy mantle to carry.
A “mantle” symbolizes responsibility or authority. The phrase “heavy mantle” interprets that the responsibility the new person inherits is substantial and weighty.
It can also mean the sense that taking on this role requires carrying a burden of high expectations left behind by the previous person.
Whatever the situation might be, whether you are giving a speech in a Handing Over ceremony, or you include it in a written message to your friend who just got a new position, this phrase comes in handy anytime.
Huge expectations to satisfy.
In a context where you want to communicate that many people are expecting a lot from a person, with the help of this phrase, it is possible to do that as it focuses on the expectations from others, which have grown to be “huge” because of the predecessor’s accomplishments.
The new person must not only perform well but meet these large and demanding expectations, which are hard to satisfy.
Giant legacy to continue.
The word “giant” here intensifies the scale of the legacy the previous person left behind. A legacy includes not only accomplishments but also influence, values, and impact.
With the aid of this phrase, you can articulate how large and significant that legacy is, making it difficult for the new person to maintain.
Immense pressure to perform.
Another way to say the idiom, “big shoes to fill” is this phrase that speaks on the emotional or psychological strain of stepping into a high-profile role after a successful predecessor.
“Immense pressure” is a good choice of words to articulate that there is an expectation placed on the new person to perform at a high level, similar to the one set before.
Major responsibility to assume.
Here, the phrase points to the significant duties tied to the role.
The new person, who could be someone you are close with or not, isn’t just taking on a position; they are assuming the large responsibilities that come with the territory, made weightier by the predecessor’s success.
There are various other ways to let someone know the truth about the challenge before them in order to get them to be much stronger and prepared.
A tall order to match.
How the word “tall order” is used in this phrase is that it is used to refer to something difficult to accomplish. In this context, the new person is expected to “match” the accomplishments or reputation of their predecessor.
The height of the “order” represents how challenging and demanding it is to meet those high standards.
Tremendous expectations to meet.
Furthermore, ‘tremendous expectations to meet’ is an alternative phrase for the idiom which speaks on the sheer size of the expectations that have been set due to the previous person’s accomplishments.
“Tremendous” just as the meaning implies, speaks of the high hopes placed on the person which can be overwhelming, and the new person must be diligent to meet them.
Imposing shadow to emerge from.
A smart way to come up with or to unleash your creativity when it comes to vocabulary is by being figurative just like in this phrase.
The “imposing shadow” symbolizes the powerful influence or reputation of the previous person.
The choice of words helps articulate that the predecessor’s presence is so dominating that it overshadows the new person, making it difficult for them to stand out on their own or escape comparison.
Grand legacy to follow.
Moving forward, we proceed to the next phrase which is “grand legacy to follow” which describes and speaks more about the achievements, values, and contributions the previous person left behind.
Following such a legacy means that the new person must maintain or live up to something monumental and respected, which adds pressure to their role.
There is always a right time to speak, be careful not to say words that can be overwhelming when the person is already feeling nervous or overwhelmed about a certain situation.
Substantial challenge ahead.
With this alternative phrase for saying “big shoes to fill,” you will be able to acknowledge the difficulty of the task the new person faces.
Using the phrase “substantial,” projects the size and importance of the challenge, indicating that taking over from someone well accomplished is no small feat. It also means that the new person must overcome significant obstacles.
Do yourself a favor by deciding to choose an alternative way to air out your opinions and thoughts, this would help you get better at communicating.
Formidable example to live up to.
When the word “formidable” is used, it is most times used to describe something that is intimidating or difficult to match.
On the other hand, the word “example” refers to the predecessor’s actions or success, which are so impressive that it will be a major challenge for the new person to live up to that same standard of excellence that has already been set.
