hot seat

noun

Slang.

1. electric chair.

2. a highly uncomfortable or embarrassing situation.

   I'm in the hot seat because of the contract I lost.

hot seat

noun

1. informal,  a precarious, difficult, or dangerous position

2. a slang term for electric chair

Word History and Origins

Origin of hot seat¹

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

In May, Lineker held back tears as he signed off from his final edition of Match of the Day after 26 years in the hot seat and officially left the BBC.

Read more on BBC

Chris Brown’s latest tour has landed him in the hot seat over trademark issues.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Most folks think Riley is not on a hot seat because of the untenable cost of his buyout, reportedly in the neighborhood of $80 million.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Lineker signed off from his final edition of Match of the Day in May after 26 years in the hot seat.

Read more on BBC

The crackdown comes as the county has once again found itself in the hot seat with state regulators.

Read more on Los Angeles Times