put one's name in the hat

present singular third person puts one's name in the hat · participle present putting one's name in the hat · alternative throw one's name in the hat · alternative toss one's name in the hat

1. idiomaticTo run in an election or to nominate oneself for consideration in some other selection process; to nominate someone other than oneself for such consideration.

   "That's why I decided to put my name in the hat and see if there's a fit here."

   2009 October 17, “Astros interview ex-manager Garner for vacancy”, in USA Today, retrieved 16 Jun 2011

   3 more examples

   [H]e would not embarrass his friends by running. So they rose up and put his name in the hat—which is exactly what I expected them to do.

   1996, Lillian Smith, edited by Margaret Rose Gladney, How Am I to Be Heard?: Letters of Lillian Smith, →ISBN, page 118

   "Most students now think to themselves: ‘How can I not apply to Yale?’" he said. "You just have to put your name in the hat."

   2006 May 14, Brian Wise, “A Free Ride at Yale? Where Do I Sign Up?”, in New York Times, retrieved 16 Jun 2011

   "Oh hiiii @AmericanIdol—I hear a seat opened up at the judges table!" she [Jordin Sparks] wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter) in February. "I’m putting my name in the hat! 🙋🏻♀️."

   2024 September 4, Adrianna Freedman, “Who Will Replace Katy Perry as an 'American Idol' Judge? Here's Who's Taking Over in 2025”, in Cosmopolitan

   Synonyms: throw one's hat in the ring