🗓️ Idiom: Put on the Spot (v)
💬 Meaning
- To be asked a question or given a task suddenly, without time to prepare.
- To feel pressure because you must respond immediately.
🧠 Example Sentences
- During the interview, I was put on the spot when they asked me to solve a problem quickly.
- She felt put on the spot when the panel asked her to talk about her weaknesses.
- The manager was put on the spot when the team requested an immediate decision.
🏛️ Origin
The idiom comes from theatre and public speaking. When someone was placed “on the spot,” they stood in a bright spotlight where everyone watched them closely. The phrase began to describe any situation where a person faces sudden pressure to respond.
📝 Practice Exercises
1. Fill in the blank
During the interview, I was __________ when they asked me an unexpected question.
Answer
put on the spot
2. Multiple choice
What does “put on the spot” mean?
a) To be asked something suddenly without preparation
b) To have extra time to think
c) To finish the interview early
Answer
a) To be asked something suddenly without preparation
3. Change the sentence using “put on the spot”
“I felt stressed when they suddenly asked me to explain my biggest mistake.”
Answer
I was put on the spot when they suddenly asked me to explain my biggest mistake.
ℹ️ Other Useful Pages
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Rob is a CELTA qualified English teacher with 15 years of international experience. He has a BSc and PGDip from Loughborough and St Andrews universities in the UK. He has taught in Thailand and Saudi Arabia and now works with professionals worldwide.
