hard on the heels of (someone or something)

1. Following very closely behind someone or something. Look, the cops are hard on the heels of the bank robbers! Since the dog was hard on the heels of the boy, he was very relieved to reach his house and run inside. I'm amazed that Smith has kept hard on the heels of the former champion for the entire race.

2. Close to defeating or overtaking a competitor. The young politician is hard on the heels of the leading candidate. The underdogs have been hard on the heels of the returning champions for the entire second half. We're finally hard on the heels of the guys who've been ahead of us in the standings all season!

3. Happening very soon after something else. The new revelation comes hard on the heels of the previous scandal. For me, shame always seems to come hard on the heels of vulnerability. I'm always skeptical of an allegation when it comes hard on the heels of another one.

hard on the heels of something

hot on the heels of something

COMMON If one event follows hard on the heels of another or hot on the heels of another, one happens very quickly or immediately after another. The news comes hard on the heels of the appointment of their new chief executive. The visit follows hot on the heels of their season at the Edinburgh International Festival. Note: You can also say that one thing happens close on the heels of another. The meeting comes close on the heels of Chatterjee's offer to resign if the members were not happy with him.