The term “hot seat” can refer to facing scrutiny or a hostile cross-examination. The origin of the term is uncertain, but it may have come from the electric chair or intense police interrogation with bright lights and heat. Military interrogators may have also used a wired seat for maximum discomfort. Similar phrases include being in the crosshairs or being called to the mat.
If you’ve ever faced a thorough scrutiny from a superior or felt compelled to defend your actions, you can honestly say you’ve been put in the hot seat. The term could also apply to a witness subjected to a hostile cross-examination or a corporate official called to a congressional hearing. Being in a warm place is rarely pleasant for the sitter, although some might appreciate the opportunity to defend an action or prove interrogators wrong.
There are several theories about the origin of this term. Several sources trace the original use to the 1930s, when the electric chair was still a preferred form of capital punishment. The electrified chair at the end of death row soon became known as the “hot seat” and the prisoners sitting in it were about to face their final punishment. There are some difficulties with this theory, however, since prisoners facing execution were not scheduled to return, unlike the figurative “hot seat,” which allows survivors.
Another theory of the origin of the term also comes from the days of intense police interrogation. In an attempt to break a suspect’s will, detectives often used bright lights during interrogations. The technique would not only prevent the suspect from seeing his interrogators, but would also create a very hot and uncomfortable environment. Perhaps the idea of facing these hard, hot lights during an interrogation formed the basis for the figurative ‘hot seat’.
Some sources take the idea one step further. There is some evidence that military interrogators occasionally used a special place for stubborn detainees. This seat would be wired with electric heating elements, thus creating a real “warm seat” for maximum discomfort. Other interrogation techniques involved delivering a series of painful electric shocks through a rigged seat.
Whatever the true origin of the term, it’s probably better to be out of one than in one. Similar phrases may include being in the crosshairs, being in the line of fire, and being called to the mat.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
