English idiom

catch someone red-handed

Register · Neutral CEFR B2

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Figurative meaning

to catch someone in the very act of doing something wrong

Why this phrase?

In old Scots law, a murderer caught with blood still on his hands was caught 'red-hand'; the image survives as proof caught mid-act.

Example

“The cashier was caught red-handed taking money from the till.”

Dictionary details

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

let the cat out of the bag

To reveal a secret, usually by mistake.

pull someone's leg

To tease or joke with someone by telling them something untrue in fun.

spill the beans

To reveal a secret, often accidentally.

behind bars

in prison

behind the scenes

happening privately or secretly, not in public view

butter someone up

to flatter someone in order to gain a favour

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

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