on the spot

phrase

1

: at once : immediately

was hired on the spot

2

: at the place of action

a reporter who was on the spot

3

a

: in a responsible or accountable position

The coach was put on the spot for the team's latest loss.

b

: in a difficult or trying situation

The unexpected question put me on the spot.

Examples of on the spot in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Not every surprise is a problem, and not every inconsistency needs to be fixed on the spot. — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 20 Sep. 2026

Things come to a head when Abby throws scalding hot soup in Margaret’s face, prompting the maid to quit on the spot. — Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026

Driving a tractor-trailer commercially without a CDL violates federal regulations — a violation that, if caught at a roadside inspection, would almost certainly have put him out of service on the spot. — John Kelly, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026

The voter registration events this weekend will include organizers from Engage Miami, a nonprofit that focuses on getting Miami’s young population civically engaged, to help check voter status and register people on the spot. — Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2026

Rhymes for on the spot

• aeronaut
• aforethought
• afterthought
• apricot
• argonaut
• astronaut
• camelot
• coffeepot
• concordat
• cosmonaut
• entrepot
• flowerpot