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

Peskov on Friday repeated an assertion that Gershkovich had been "caught red-handed", but declined to elaborate on the details of the case, which have been kept secret even from the reporter's legal team.

From Reuters

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters: “It is not about a suspicion, it is about the fact that he was caught red-handed.”

From Seattle Times

“We’re not talking about suspicions,” he said, adding, “He was caught red-handed.”

From New York Times

But many reported the capture and killing of fire-starters, “incendiaries,” who were caught red-handed that night.

From Washington Post

Here, in her own words, Louise reveals for the first time how she caught him red-handed.

From BBC