B2idiominformalpoliticsIELTS-friendly
in the hot seat
USUK
in a position where you must answer hard questions or take responsibility
Same image as Vietnamese 'ghế nóng'. American English also says 'on the hot seat'.
In context
The health minister was in the hot seat after the hospital scandal.
Tonight's guest in the hot seat is the city's new mayor.
More idioms about politics
- a double standarda rule applied more strictly to one group than to another
- a grey areaa situation where the rules are unclear, so nobody is sure what is allowed
- a hidden agendaa secret reason or plan behind what someone says or does
- a hot potatoa difficult issue that people disagree about and nobody wants to deal with
- a lame ducka politician or government with little real power, often near the end of a term in office