Definition

1. Noun:
   • A difficult position where one is subjected to stress and criticism: The "hot seat" refers to a situation where a person faces intense questioning, pressure, or blame.
   • An instrument of execution by electrocution; resembles an ordinary seat for one person: This is a slang term for the electric chair, a device used for capital punishment.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Difficult Position):
  • The CEO was in the hot seat during the shareholder meeting, answering tough questions about the company's losses.
  • As the team leader, she found herself in the hot seat when the project failed.
• Noun (Electric Chair):
  • The convicted criminal was sentenced to the hot seat for his crimes. (This usage is informal and primarily historical/American English.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be in/on the hot seat": To be in a position of intense scrutiny or pressure.
  • The minister was on the hot seat for hours during the parliamentary inquiry.

Variants and Related Words

• Hot-seat (as a verb, rare): To subject someone to intense questioning or pressure.
  • The journalist was hot-seated by the aggressive interview panel.

Synonyms

• For the "difficult position" meaning: Hot spot, pressure cooker, spotlight, line of fire.
• For the "execution device" meaning: Electric chair, death chair, Old Sparky (slang).

Related Phrases

• "Take the hot seat": To voluntarily or involuntarily assume a position of high pressure or accountability.
  • No one wanted to take the hot seat and present the bad news to the board.

Noun

1. a difficult position where you are subjected to stress and criticism
2. an instrument of execution by electrocution; resembles an ordinary seat for one person
   • the murderer was sentenced to die in the chair