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In the episode 14 of Friends, Susan and Carol are having dinner in a restaurant. Susan's cell phone rings - it's a workmate who needs her presence there. Then, they talk to each other:

Carol: Oh no. I thought you said they could shoot the spot without you.

Susan: I thought they could.

Carol: But it is Valentine’s Day.

Susan: I know, but it is my job. Look, I’ll try to get back as soon as I can. I’m sorry.

I've been trying to understand the meaning of the bold expression above checking different meanings to to shoot and spot, but I couldn't. I guess Susan's job was not presented on the series (so far). To spot I found:

spot. A situation, especially a troublesome one.

I think it may be the right meaning in this case, if to shoot could be like to solve. However, I couldn't be sure of that. I'd appreciate any help. Thanks in advance!

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    shoot is to film or take a picture of something. the spot is some short such activity like a commercial or promo.
    – user3169
    Jul 31, 2017 at 16:25
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    What @user3169 said. Personally, I'd be perfectly happy with slot instead of shot in this context - more explicitly alluding to the idea that the transmission (or recording) schedule is "tight" (potentially making it difficult for additional material to be "slotted in" to some small gap).
    – FumbleFingers
    Jul 31, 2017 at 16:32
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    @J.R. I didn't because dictionary definitions applied to the context should have been enough to answer the question.
    – user3169
    Jul 31, 2017 at 18:29
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    @user3169 - Have you looked up spot in the dictionary? I think sometimes we forget how hard it might be for a learner to sort through dozens of definitions and spot the correct one. Given that spot has about 20 definitions as a noun, and shoot has about 40 as a verb, that's about 800 possible potential meanings for shoot the spot.
    – J.R. ♦
    Jul 31, 2017 at 18:41
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    I think the OP needs to apply the context to those definitions. Then spot: "6. countable noun - A spot in a television or radio show is a part of it that is regularly reserved for a particular performer or type of entertainment. Unsuccessful at screen writing, he got a spot on a CNN film show."
    – user3169
    Jul 31, 2017 at 23:29

1 Answer 1

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As user3169 pointed, in this situation, the right meanings to shoot and spot are:

shoot. film or photograph (a scene, film, etc.).

spot. a brief announcement or advertisement broadcast between scheduled radio or television programs.

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