red-handed

American  

[red-han-did] / ˈrɛdˈhæn dɪd /

adjective

1. in the very act of a crime, wrongdoing, etc., or in possession of self-incriminating evidence.

   They caught him red-handed dipping into the till.

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red-handed British  

adjective

1. (postpositive) in the act of committing a crime or doing something wrong or shameful (esp in the phrase catch red-handed )

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Other Word Forms

• red-handedly adverb
• red-handedness noun

Etymology

Origin of red-handed

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

Bosses at the pub in Urmston, Greater Manchester, said they received an anonymous tip-off and caught the team "cheating red-handed" when players were spotted whispering into their smartwatches to get answers.

From BBC

"He caught them red-handed and, as a result, we've banned them from taking part in future quizzes," he said.

From BBC

"Six people who used explosives in an attack on a precious metals company in Lyon were caught red-handed," Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said on X, praising officers for their "firmness, speed and control."

From Barron's

One way local authorities catch sellers red-handed is by sending undercover teenagers into shops across England.

From BBC

Caught red-handed poisoning her abusive boyfriend, played by Alexander Skarsgård, Gaga embarks on a nine-minute, high-energy spectacle featuring a dramatic jailbreak, bold fashion, and more poisoning.

From Salon