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, noun

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, noun

Word Origin for red-handed

C19 (earlier, C15 red hand)