| 释义 |
on the spot
spot S0666200 (spŏt)n.1. 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.2. 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.3. Informal A piece of paper money worth a specified number of dollars: a five spot.4. a. A small area: a bald spot; an itchy spot.b. A location or position: a good spot for catching fish.c. A point of interest: There are a lot of spots to visit in the old city.d. A position or an item in an ordered arrangement: the first spot in line.e. Football The position of the ball for the line of scrimmage as determined by a referee after a play.5. Informal A situation, especially a troublesome one.6. A flaw in one's reputation or character: a dark spot in his past.7. A short presentation or commercial on television or radio between major programs: a news spot.8. Informal A spotlight.9. 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 game fish.10. Chiefly British A small amount; a bit: a spot of tea.v. spot·ted, spot·ting, spots v.tr.1. To cause a spot or spots to appear on, especially:a. To soil with spots: Soot spotted the curtains.b. To decorate with spots; dot.2. To bring disgrace to; besmirch: rumors that spotted his reputation.3. a. To place in a particular location; situate precisely: spotted their stores in smaller towns.b. Football To position (the ball) determining the line of scrimmage after a play has been completed.4. To detect or discern, especially visually; spy: spotted him on the subway.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: These dishes spot easily.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 spot1. Without delay; at once.2. At the scene of action.3. Under pressure or attention; in a pressed position.
[Middle English, from Old English.]
spot′ta·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" |
Translationsspot (spot) noun1. a small mark or stain (made by mud, paint etc). She was trying to remove a spot of grease from her skirt. 污點 污点2. a small, round mark of a different colour from its background. His tie was blue with white spots. 斑點 斑点3. a pimple or red mark on the skin caused by an illness etc. She had measles and was covered in spots. 皮疹，紅斑 皮疹，红斑 4. a place or small area, especially the exact place (where something happened etc). There was a large number of detectives gathered at the spot where the body had been found. 地點 地点5. a small amount. Can I borrow a spot of sugar? 一點兒 少量的 verb – past tense, past participle ˈspotted – 1. to catch sight of. She spotted him eventually at the very back of the crowd. 發現 发现2. to recognize or pick out. No-one watching the play was able to spot the murderer. 認出 认出ˈspotless adjective very clean. a spotless kitchen. 無瑕的，非常乾淨的 无瑕的，非常干净的 ˈspotlessly adverb 無瑕地，純潔地 无瑕地，纯洁地 ˈspotlessness noun 純潔 纯洁ˈspotted adjective marked or covered with spots. Her dress was spotted with grease; a spotted tie. 有斑點的 有斑点的ˈspotty adjective (of people) covered with spots. a spotty face / young man. 多斑點的 多斑点的ˈspottiness noun 帶斑點 带斑点spot check an inspection made without warning, especially on items chosen at random from a group. We only found out about the flaw during a spot check on goods leaving the factory. 抽查 抽查ˈspotlight noun (a lamp for projecting) a circle of light that is thrown on to a small area. 聚光燈照明圈 聚光灯照明圈 verb – past tense, past participle ˈspotlit, ~ˈspotlighted – 1. to light with a spotlight. The stage was spotlit. 聚光照明 聚光照明2. to show up clearly or draw attention to. The incident spotlighted the difficulties with which we were faced. 使突出醒目 使突出醒目in a spot in trouble. His failure to return the papers on time put her in a spot. 處於困境 处于困境on the spot1. at once. She liked it so much that she bought it on the spot; (also adjective) an on-the-spot decision. 當場，立即 当场，立即 2. in the exact place referred to; in the place where one is needed. It was a good thing you were on the spot when he had his heart attack; (also adjective) tour on-the-spot reporter. 在現場 在现场3. (especially with put) in a dangerous, difficult or embarrassing position. The interviewer's questions really put the Prime Minister on the spot. 處於困境中 处于困境中spot on very accurate or exactly on the target. His description of Mary was spot on! 非常精確，準確擊中目標 非常精确，准确击中目标 on the spot
on the spot1. At once in one's exact location; right then and there. My boss grilled me about the mix-up in the report, making me explain the whole thing right there on the spot. When she found out he'd cheated on her, Sam broke up with Tommy on the spot. If I ever win the lottery, I'm going to quit my job on the spot.2. In trouble; under pressure; in a difficult position. I'm sorry for putting you on the spot back there, but I needed an answer for the investors. A bunch of money has gone missing and everyone from the accounting department is on the spot.See also: on, spoton the spot 1. Lit. at exactly the right place; at exactly the right time. It's noon, and I'm glad you're all here on the spot. Now we can begin. I expect you to be on the spot when and where trouble arises. 2. Fig. in trouble; in a difficult situation. There is a problem in the department I manage, and I'm really on the spot. I hate to be on the spot when it's not my fault.See also: on, spotput someone on the spotFig. 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: on, put, spoton the spot1. At once, without delay, as in When the boss learned Tom had been lying, he fired him on the spot. This usage suggests that one does not have time to move away from a particular spot. [Late 1600s] 2. At the scene of action, as in Whenever there's a bad accident or fire, you can be sure the station will have a reporter on the spot . This usage also employs spot in the sense of "a particular location." [Late 1600s] 3. Under pressure or in trouble, as in He's on the spot, because he can't pay back the loan. It is also phrased as put on the spot, meaning "put under pressure." For example, The reporter's question put her on the spot; she didn't want to lie or to admit her part in the scandal . [First half of 1900s] See also: on, spoton the spot COMMON1. If an action is done on the spot, it is done immediately. She was found stealing money from the till and sacked on the spot. I was afraid they would kill me on the spot. Note: You can also use on-the-spot before a noun. On-the-spot fines are issued for litter dropping.2. Someone who is on the spot is in the place where something is actually happening. The Guard has firefighters on the spot the minute a fire is sighted. Note: You can use on-the-spot before a noun to say that something actually happens in the place that you are talking about. Experts sent to Thailand have begun an on-the-spot investigation. There is little point in providing on-the-spot help while the fighting continues.See also: on, spoton the ˈspot
1 at the place where something is happening: Our man on the spot is Geoff Davies. He’s going to tell us exactly what’s happening in Cairo.
2 immediately; without any delay: The police officer asked me for my driving licence and I gave it to him on the spot. ♢ on-the-spot finesSee also: on, spot on the spot1. Without delay; at once.2. At the scene of action.3. Under pressure or attention; in a pressed position.See also: on, spoton the spotImmediately, at once; also, in a very difficult situation. Both meanings are several hundred years old. “If once they get you on the spot you must be guilty of the plot,” wrote Jonathan Swift in 1723 (To Charles Ford, Esq.), clearly meaning a bad situation. To put someone on the spot, however, appears to be an American locution of the twentieth century, and in gangster slang meant marking someone for execution. The other meaning—at once or immediately—dates from the nineteenth century. “I couldn’t stand it, sir, at all, but up and kissed her on the spot,” wrote poet William Pitt Palmer (1805–84) in “The Smack in School.” This meaning also gave rise to Johnny-on-the-spot.See also: on, spoton the solid on the solid[′ȯnthə ′säl·əd] (mining engineering) Pertaining to the practice of blasting heavy charges of explosives, in lieu of undercutting or channeling. into the solid MedicalSeespotAcronymsSeeOTS |