put on the spot

put someone on the spot

Fig. to ask someone forthright questions; to demand that someone produce as expected. Don't put me on the spot. I can't give you an instant answer. The boss put Bob on the spot and demanded that he do everything he had promised.

See also: put, spot

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put somebody on the spot

to cause someone difficulty or make them embarrassed by forcing them at that moment to make a difficult decision or answer an embarrassing question Steve rather put him on the spot by asking when we were going to get a pay-rise.

See hit the spot

See also: put, spot

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put somebody on the spot

to cause someone difficulty or embarrassment She asked if I would vote for her, which really put me on the spot because I had decided not to.

See also: put, spot