on the spot

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.

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[Middle English, from Old English.]

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spotta·ble adj.

Thesaurus

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"