to put on the spot
41
5.3
- phrasal verb
- Informal
:
poner en apuros
- She really put him on the spot when she asked him to sing in front of everyone.
You're going to put me on the spot.
- You're going to put me on the spot.
- But it's never a good question because it puts the survivor on the spot and it is also shaming.
- I didn't, I didn't I don't believe I put people on the spot.
- And it means that thank you Kendall for putting me on the spot.
- Oh, it's a few out there, but just 'cause you put me on the spot right now.
- I think I said that last time you put me on the spot.
- Man, you put me on the spot like that.
- I've got this fear of confrontation, this like overwhelming fear and phobia of being put on the spot.
- Well, I think we'll end up with something like that in China and then that'll put China on the spot.
- I was like, he said what you're on and I'm like, is he putting me on the spot here?
- But when I'm like put on the spot and I'm like, I'm not really thinking about what I'm saying.
- Yeah, get him on a get him on a game of Never have I ever or a drinking game and put him on the spot.
Examples
-
I'd do it myself, but I don't want to put her on the spot.
-
I don't want to put you on the spot.
-
We're not here to put anybody on the spot.
-
Sorry if I put you on the spot showing up like that.
-
You think it's smart to ask questions that put people on the spot.
Fiction book (1999) -
I avoid questions that might put him on the spot, not wanting to find out if he knows everything.
Fiction book (1998) -
You just put him on the spot and yeah, what's he going to say?
-
You just put me on the spot today, Reverend.
-
So, I hate to put you on the spot, but which mascot was your favorite?
-
"I hope it doesn't put you on the spot if I ask you a question."
Fiction book (1996)
Synonyms
45
3.7
To challenge people or things in hard situations to show their ability
17
5.1
To make someone give a clear answer and stop avoiding it
12
8.1
Make someone do what they promised or take responsibility by pressuring them
Antonyms
How Pressured
Surface Forms
Morphology
The literal components ('put' + 'on' + 'spot') do convey the idea of placing someone in a particular location, so learners can infer a general 'placing' sense, but the MWE's specific meaning of pressuring someone to answer or act immediately is a metaphorical/pragmatic extension not fully predictable from the words alone. While similar expressions exist in many languages (so the basic metaphor may be accessible), the nuance of suddenness/embarrassment often requires prior exposure, making the item only partially transparent to a B1 learner.
Etymology
Put on the spot gives the image of someone told to stand on a small marked place or under a bright light, a spot, so they must speak or act right away and feel watched. That's why it means 'to make someone answer or act under pressure'.