hot mic

noun

variants or less commonly hot mike

plural hot mics also hot mikes

: a microphone that is live

—used especially of a microphone that captures the words of someone who is unaware that it is present or operating

Numerous TV anchors and reporters have been caught on hot mics, especially when they wrongly assume their segment is over.

—Dana Jelter

The exchange was picked up on a hot mic, and brought immediate laughter from the Fox broadcasting duo …

—Justin Rogers

Put a few super-sensitive hot mics on the sidelines of sporting events and you may get a sense of what really goes on inside the arena of competition.

—Dave Frederick

Word History

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined above