tall order
noun phrase

- an unreasonable or difficult demand

- a request that is difficult to fulfil

- an unreasonable or difficult demand

Oxford Languages, Cambridge Dictionary, Merriam-Dictionary

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PHRASE ORIGIN

The phrase "tall order" dates to around 1900, emerging in American English. It combines "tall" (meaning "large in amount or degree") with "order" (meaning "a direction or commission to make, provide, or furnish something").

The expression uses "tall" in the sense of "impressively great" or "difficult" rather than its primary meaning of physical height. This metaphorical use of "tall" to mean "great in degree" or "demanding" was already established in English by the time the phrase emerged.

The word "tall" has had multiple meanings throughout history. Originally in Anglo-Saxon times it meant "swift" or "prompt," and later evolved to mean "fine," "handsome," "bold," or "strong" before acquiring its modern sense of physical height in the 16th century. The metaphorical use in "tall order" draws on this tradition of "tall" meaning "impressive" or "substantial."

The phrase essentially means "a big/substantial request" - one that requires considerable effort or skill to fulfill.

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A VERY TALL ORDER

GUEST: “Waiter, this restaurant claims to serve any dish, is that correct?

WAITER: “Indeed, Sir! Your wish is our command."

GUEST: “Well in that case, bring me elephant ears on toast!”

WAITER: “Elephant ears on toast. Certainly Sir! Would you be wanting Indian or African elephant ears?"

GUEST: (Hesitating) “Er,… bring me African elephant ears.”

WAITER: “Certainly Sir, African elephant ears on toast” (and disappears into the kitchen).

Waiter returns after a few minutes.

WAITER: “I’m most terribly sorry Sir,… but we have no toast!”

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SYNOYNMS

a big ask, a big challenge, a bit of a stretch, a bridge too far, a hard nut (to crack), a heavy lift (task), a Herculean/Sisyphean task, a high bar, a lot to ask, a major undertaking, a mammoth task, a steep ask, a tall ask, A TALL ORDER, a tough call (cookie, nut), a tough nut to crack, an ambitious undertaking, asking for the moon, asking too much, challenging request, daunting task, difficult proposition, formidable challenge, like pushing water uphill, longshot, near impossible, no easy feat, no small task, stiff challenge, uphill battle (climb)

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SMUGGLE
 OWAD into a conversation today, say something like:

“Did you hear about the restaurant guest who had a very TALL ORDER?”

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P L E A S E   S U P P O R T   O W A D