red-handed
[ red-han-did ]
/ ˈrɛdˈhæn dɪd /
adjective, adverb
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.
Origin of red-handed
First recorded in 1810–20
OTHER WORDS FROM red-handed
red-hand·ed·ness, nounWords nearby red-handed
red-eye gravy,
red-eyed vireo,
red-faced,
red-figure,
red-flag,
red-handed,
red-headed,
red-headed woodpecker,
red-hot,
red-hot poker,
red-lead ore
Example sentences from the Web for red-handed
British Dictionary definitions for red-handed
red-handed
adjective
(postpositive)
in the act of committing a crime or doing something wrong or shameful (esp in the phrase catch red-handed)
Derived forms of red-handed
red-handedly, adverb red-handedness, nounWord Origin for red-handed
C19 (earlier, C15
red hand)