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

Explanation

Someone is red-handed if it's obvious they're guilty of some wrongdoing, or are even in the midst of doing it. If you catch your brother with his hand literally in the cookie jar, you can say you caught him red-handed. A fancier way to say red-handed is the Latin phrase in flagrante delicto, or "in blazing offense." Aside from this legal term, you can also say "caught in the act." Red-handed comes from legal terminology too — specifically, a Scottish legal term that was inspired by the grisly image of a murderer who's been caught with bloody hands.

Example Sentences

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

From BBC • May 6, 2025

PUTIN’S QUOTE: “He was caught red-handed when he was secretly getting classified information.”

From Seattle Times • Feb. 9, 2024

“Even when he is literally caught red-handed, he won’t want to admit it.”

From New York Times • Feb. 2, 2024

The Kremlin said he was caught "red-handed" but has provided no detail to support the assertion.

From Reuters • Aug. 24, 2023

He was caught red-handed, holding the chewed-up two dollars in his front legs.

From "The Cricket in Times Square" by George Selden