** English SPOT Notes **
Noun
1) small, usually round mark on something for example a stain.
eg. ladybugs have spots and so do some animals but usually it refers
to something you don't want, like a spot on your clothes.
2) a particular place or point
'This might be a good spot to rest for a while.'
-- Sheldon's spot
- a bald spot
3) British - a small amount of something
- 'a spot of tea'
Verb
1) to see or notice something
'Can you spot the differences?'
2) to mark or put spots on something
'The carpet was spotted with stains.'
3) to lend money - slang
- 'Can you spot me a 20?'
4) to help someone do something physical like gymnastics.
Idioms and more
1) A leopard cannot change it's spots:
people can't/don't change
He will again, a leopard canโt change itโs spots.
2) Got a soft spot for - weak point, or to have
tender, loving feelings to
She really has a soft spot for puppies!
3) hits the spot - something meets your needs
- food, drink
I was so hot and thirsty, the lemonade really hit the spot!
4) Spot on - to be exactly right
He was spot on with his assessment of why the project failed.
5) X marks the spot
The exact place of something, a letter x may be written on the location. Especially in kids stories about pirates and buried treasures you may hear someone talk about a map to find the buried treasure and say โx marks the spotโ!
6) Spot check โ noun or verb โ a check or inspection that is random or only lasts a short amount of time.
I heard they are doing spot checks at the border today.
His boss would sometimes spot check his employees
7) Touch a sore spot (literal) (flu)
Talk about something that may upset a person
When he asked her about her age, he kind of touched a sore spot with her.
8) Blind spot
This a 1) an area you canโt see, for example when driving, most cars have a blind spot where you canโt see around you when you are driving. This can be very dangerous. Newer cars like Teslas have lots of cameras so blind spots are not a big problem.
2) something about your life that you arenโt aware of. For example I could have a blind spot for ways that my youtube videos could be better.
9) Put someone โon the spotโ
Make someone feel uncomfortable about something
His questions about my love life really put me on the spot, I didnโt want to talk about it.
10) be in the spotlight
Big bright light usually used on a stage , sometimes literal
Center of attention โ could be good and on purpose or not good
If a person is giving a presentation, they are in the spotlight.
But it could be bad if someone is famous and they do something bad or embarrassing and everyone notices.
11) tough spot โ difficult situation
Iโm in kind of a tough spot with money right now
Also:
hot spot - an exciting place, wireless hotspot
sunspot - darker, cooler areas on the surface of the sun
spotty - has spots, uneven, inconsistent