hot seat, in the

Idioms  

1. In a position of extreme stress or discomfort, as when subjected to harsh criticism. For example, When merger negotiations broke down, he was in the hot seat with the stockholders. This expression extends hot seat in the sense of “the electric chair” (for effecting an execution) to wider use. [c. 1930]

---

Example Sentences

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire Amanda Peet, Zachary Quinto and Karamo Brown are in the hot seat in the first of three new episodes.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 5, 2021

The job he will take later this month has been a hot seat in the world of highbrow journalism since Lewis H. Lapham stepped down as editor in 2006, after a 28-year run.

From New York Times • Oct. 21, 2019

They’ve made two trips to the Super Bowl and won one in his tenure, and there’s no hot seat in the Steel City.

From Washington Times • Nov. 7, 2015