come / follow hot / close / hard on the heels of sth

/kˈʌm fˈɒləʊ hˈɒt klˈəʊs hˈɑːd ɒnðə hˈiːlz ɒv ˌɛstˌiːˈeɪtʃ/

/kˈʌm fˈɑːloʊ hˈɑːt klˈoʊs hˈɑːɹd ɑːnðə hˈiːlz ʌv ˌɛstˌiːˈeɪtʃ/

[phrase]

to come / follow hot / close / hard on the heels of sth

[PHRASE]

to happen very closely after something else has happened

What is the origin of the idiom "come hot on the heels of something" and when to use it?

The origin of the idiom "come hot on the heels of something" can be traced back to the imagery and idiomatic expressions related to hunting. In hunting, dogs or horses would follow the scent or tracks of prey, running swiftly and closely behind. It is commonly used when discussing news, announcements, or actions that closely follow a recent event.

Examples

1. The news came hot on the heels of another plane crash.

2. The factory closure follows hot on the heels of several others

3. For Walter, disaster followed hard on the heels of his initial success.

4. His resignation comes hard on the heels of the announcement that the company is going bankrupt.