put one's name in the hat verb1 •To run in an election or to nominate oneself for consideration in some other selection process; to nominate someone other than oneself for such consideration.[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 formsputting one's name in the hat · puts one's name in the hat
