Phrase guide

on the spot

prep_phrase · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

prep_phrase

Meaning 1

At that very moment.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • He liked the house, so he made an offer on the spot.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: right away, then and there

Antonyms: none provided

2

prep_phrase

Meaning 2

Having to answer or decide without warning or preparation.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • All the sudden questions put him on the spot and he had to think quickly.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: on the stand

Antonyms: none provided

3

prep_phrase

Meaning 3

In a particular place.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • This report comes from our man on the spot in Gaza.
  • We exercised by jumping up and down on the spot.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: in place, on location, on site, on the premises, in the room

Antonyms: none provided

4

adverb

Meaning 4

without delay or immediately

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • we hired her on the spot
  • thought they were going to shoot us down on the spot

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

adverb

Meaning 5

at the place in question; there

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • they were on the spot when it happened
  • it had to be decided by the man on the spot

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

adverb

Meaning 6

in a difficult situation

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • that question really put him on the spot

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

46 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bashkir: шунда уҡ (şunda uq) — at the very moment
  • Chinese Mandarin: 當場 /当场 (dāngchǎng) — at the very moment
  • Dutch: ter plekke — at the very moment
  • Finnish: siinä paikassa — at the very moment
  • Finnish: saman tien — at the very moment
  • French: sur-le-champ — at the very moment
  • French: séance tenante — at the very moment
  • Georgian: ეგრევე (egreve) — at the very moment
  • Georgian: მაშინვე (mašinve) — at the very moment
  • German: auf der Stelle — at the very moment
  • Greek: αυτή τη στιγμή (aftí ti stigmí) — at the very moment
  • Ancient Greek: παραχρῆμα (parakhrêma) — at the very moment
  • Indonesian: seketika — at the very moment
  • Irish: ar an ásc sin — at the very moment
  • Irish: ar an spota — at the very moment
  • Irish: láithreach bonn — at the very moment
  • Italian: subito — at the very moment
  • Italian: immediatamente — at the very moment
  • Latin: ilico — at the very moment
  • Latin: illico — at the very moment
  • Latin: praesto — at the very moment
  • Macedonian: на лице место (na lice mesto) — at the very moment
  • Norwegian Bokmål: på flekken — at the very moment
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: på flekken — at the very moment
  • Polish: z miejsca — at the very moment
  • Portuguese: na hora — at the very moment
  • Portuguese: no momento — at the very moment
  • Portuguese: ali mesmo — at the very moment
  • Russian: неме́дленно (nemédlenno) — at the very moment
  • Russian: сра́зу — at the very moment
  • Russian: ту́т же (tút že) — at the very moment
  • Scottish Gaelic: anns a' bhad — at the very moment
  • Scottish Gaelic: sa bhad — at the very moment
  • Scottish Gaelic: anns an spot — at the very moment
  • Swedish: på fläcken — at the very moment
  • Finnish: tiukille — having to answer or decide without warning
  • Irish: láithreach bonn — having to answer or decide without warning
  • Irish: ar an toirt — having to answer or decide without warning
  • Dutch: ter plekke — in a particular place
  • Finnish: paikalla — in a particular place
  • Finnish: paikan päällä — in a particular place
  • French: sur place — in a particular place
  • Greek: επί τόπου (epí tópou) — in a particular place
  • Italian: sul posto — in a particular place
  • Russian: на ме́сте (na méste) — in a particular place
  • Serbo-Croatian: na mjestu — in a particular place