spot as

spot (someone or something) as (something)

To identify or recognize someone or something as being a particular type of person or thing. Is there anyone you've spotted as a potential candidate for the job? I spotted this as a potential problem weeks ago, but the bosses wouldn't listen to me at the time.See also: spot

spot someone as something

to recognize someone to be something; to realize that someone is something. I spotted you as a troublemaker from the very beginning. The guard spotted Max as a potential thief the moment he saw him.See also: spot