phrasal verb (idiom) · informal
put someone on the spot
UK/pʊt ˈsʌmwʌn ɒn ðə spɒt/US/pʊt ˈsʌmwʌn ɑn ðə spɑt/put·SOME·one·on·the·SPOT
to force someone to answer or to do something immediately, often causing embarrassment
Examples
“The reporter put the politician on the spot with a tough question.”
“Don't put me on the spot — I haven't decided yet.”
“She was put on the spot during the meeting and had to explain her proposal.”
Band 8 sentence
“The panel chair should avoid putting a witness on the spot; a fair question can be firm without being aggressive.”
Collocations
- put someone on the spot with a question
- be put on the spot
Word family
Common mistakes
put someone on spot→put someone on the spot
put someone in the spot→put someone on the spot
Say it for a higher band
5embarrass someone→6make someone uncomfortable→7+put someone on the spot
Synonyms
corner
pressure someone
Easily confused
put your foot down
“When the tenants refused to pay, the landlord put his foot down and served notice.”
Related words
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In put …
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