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on the spot

   Also found in: Legal, Acronyms, Idioms, Wikipedia 0.02 sec.
spot  (spt)
n.
1. A place of relatively small and definite limits.
2.
a. A mark on a surface differing sharply in color from its surroundings.
b. A blemish, mark, or pimple on the skin.
c. A stain or blot.
3. Games
a. A mark or pip on a playing card; a spade, club, diamond, or heart.
b. A playing card with a specified number of such marks on it indicating its value.
4. Informal A piece of paper money worth a specified number of dollars.
5.
a. A location; a locale.
b. A point of interest: There are a lot of spots to visit in the old city.
c. A position or an item in an ordered arrangement.
6. Informal A situation, especially a troublesome one.
7. A flaw in one's reputation or character.
8. A short presentation or commercial on television or radio between major programs: a news spot.
9. Informal A spotlight.
10. pl. spot or spots A small croaker (Leiostomus xanthurus) of North American Atlantic waters, having a dark mark above each pectoral fin and valued as a food and sport fish.
11. Chiefly British A small amount; a bit.
v. spot·ted, spot·ting, spots
v.tr.
1. To cause a spot or spots to appear on, especially:
a. To soil with spots.
b. To decorate with spots; dot.
2. To harm; besmirch.
3. To place in a particular location; situate precisely.
4. To detect or discern, especially visually; spy.
5. To remove spots from, as in a laundry.
6. Sports To yield a favorable scoring margin to: spotted their opponents 11 points.
7. Sports To act as a spotter for (a gymnast, for example).
8. Informal To lend: Can you spot me $25 until payday?
v.intr.
1. To become marked with spots.
2. To cause a discoloration or make a stain.
3. To locate targets from the air during combat or training missions.
adj.
1. Made, paid, or delivered immediately: a spot sale.
2. Of, relating to, or being a market in which payment or delivery is immediate: the spot market in oil.
3. Involving random or selective instances or actions: a spot investigation.
4. Presented between major radio or television programs: a spot announcement.
Idioms:
in spots
Now and then; here and there; occasionally.
on the spot
1. Without delay; at once.
2. At the scene of action.
3. Under pressure or attention; in a pressed position.

[Middle English, from Old English.]

spotta·ble adj.
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Adv.1.on the spot - without delay or immediately; "we hired her on the spot"; "thought they were going to shoot us down on the spot"
2.on the spot - in a difficult situation; "that question really put him on the spot"
3.on the spot - at the place in question; there; "they were on the spot when it happened"; "it had to be decided by the man on the spot"


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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
The sapling which had rooted down to a poisonous stratum on the spot of its sowing had been transplanted to a deeper soil.
"There are five of them," said Athos, half aloud, "and we are but three; we shall be beaten again, and must die on the spot, for, on my part, I declare I will never appear again before the captain as a conquered man.
In requital, having previously waxed his hand, a practice unknown, I believe, to the gentlemen of the modern fancy, he returned the box on the ear with such interest as to kill his antagonist on the spot.
 
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