hot seat
Scrutiny's uncomfortable perch
The hot seat is a position of intense scrutiny, pressure, or accountability.
Someone in the hot seat faces difficult questions or must answer for their actions: The CEO found himself in the hot seat after the scandal broke.
The term comes from slang for the electric chair, though that grim origin has faded from everyday use.
Cooking on metal grates
- cross-examinationOpposing party questions witness
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
- inquisitionSustained, probing investigation
- probeThorough examination or tool
inquiry · interview · deposition · testimony · confession · suspect · witness · detective
Pressure, mental or vocal
- tensionStretched or strained state
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- strainExcessive stretching force
- scrutinyClose, careful examination
spotlight · exposure · vulnerability · discomfort · squirm · sweat · nervousness · ordeal
Competition participant
- quizBrief informal test
- triviaUnimportant miscellaneous facts
- competitionStruggle for supremacy
- challengeTest of ability
audience · host · prize · questions · rapid-fire · timer · buzzer · panel
Concentrated illumination source
- limelightCenter of public notice
- center stagePosition of maximum attention
- focusConcentrated attention point
- all eyesUtterly focused on something
exposed · public eye · under fire · on the spot · singled out · targeted · called upon · put on notice
State of being answerable
- answerabilityObligation to explain oneself
- blameAssign responsibility for wrongdoing
- culpabilityDeserving blame for wrongdoing
- reckoningSettlement of accounts
consequences · explanation · justification · transparency · ownership · duty · obligation · liable
grilling
Cooking on metal grates
- cross-examinationOpposing party questions witness
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
- inquisitionSustained, probing investigation
probe · inquiry · interview · deposition · testimony · confession · suspect · witness · detective · trial
stress
Pressure, mental or vocal
- tensionStretched or strained state
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- strainExcessive stretching force
scrutiny · spotlight · exposure · vulnerability · discomfort · squirm · sweat · nervousness · ordeal · trial by fire
contestant
Competition participant
- quizBrief informal test
- triviaUnimportant miscellaneous facts
- competitionStruggle for supremacy
challenge · audience · host · prize · questions · rapid-fire · timer · buzzer · panel · judges
spotlight
Concentrated illumination source
- limelightCenter of public notice
- center stagePosition of maximum attention
- focusConcentrated attention point
all eyes · exposed · public eye · under fire · on the spot · singled out · targeted · called upon · put on notice · front and center
responsibility
State of being answerable
- answerabilityObligation to explain oneself
- blameAssign responsibility for wrongdoing
- culpabilityDeserving blame for wrongdoing
reckoning · consequences · explanation · justification · transparency · ownership · duty · obligation · liable · answerable
- game showsbuzzer, buzzers, contestant, contestants, jackpot
- game show elementsquiz show, trivia, wheel spinning, panel show, talent show
- gaming modesmultiplayer, co-op, versus, team deathmatch, free-for-all
- group gamesicebreaker, party game, party games, group game, team building
- hardshipshardship, adversity, struggle, misfortune, difficulties
- executionexecution, lethal injection, firing squad, gas chamber, electric chair
hot seatsafe haven
Protected place of shelter
easy street · smooth sailing · comfort zone · easy chair · back burner
hot seateasy chair
Comfortable upholstered seating
bed of roses · lap of luxury · sinecure · soft landing · cozy spot
hot seatbehind the scenes
Out of public view
in the shadows · ivory tower · immunity · anonymity · obscurity
heat, seat, seats, heating, heater, seating, unseat, heats, backseat