To put someone on the griddle is a colloquial idiomatic expression, often used in informal contexts that refers to subjecting someone to intense scrutiny, interrogation, or pressure. This phrase draws an analogy from the act of cooking or grilling food on a heated griddle, where the food is exposed to intense heat and scrutiny.
When one puts someone on the griddle, they are figuratively placing that individual in a challenging, demanding, or uncomfortable situation, where they are thoroughly examined and scrutinized. This can often involve a series of probing questions, critical evaluation, or close observation of one's actions, behavior, or performance. The intention is to thoroughly test or challenge the individual's capabilities, knowledge, or honesty.
This idiom is commonly used in contexts such as job interviews, investigative journalism, police interrogations, or any other situation that involves rigorous questioning or investigation. It conveys a sense of intense scrutiny or pressure that can potentially make the person being grilled feel uncomfortable, vulnerable, or exposed.
In summary, "puts someone on the griddle" refers to subjecting an individual to intense scrutiny, interrogation, or pressure, often through a series of probing questions or critical evaluation, in a manner comparable to cooking food on a heated griddle.
