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red-handed

UK:^*^*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˌrɛdˈhændɪd/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈrɛdˈhændɪd/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(red′han′did)

red-hand•ed /ˈrɛdˈhændɪd/USA pronunciation adj., adv.

in the very act of a crime, wrongdoing, etc.:caught red-handed with the stolen goods.

red-hand•ed (red′han′did),USA pronunciation adj., adv.

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.

1810–20

red′-hand′ed•ness, n.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

red-handed adj

(postpositive) in the act of committing a crime or doing something wrong or shameful (esp in the phrase catch red-handed)

Etymology: 19th Century (earlier, C15 red hand)

'red-handed' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

bang - in flagrante delicto - dead - job

In Lists: Dictionary of feelings, intentions, behaviour... , more...

Synonyms: caught in the act, in flagrante delicto, while one is at it, in a compromising position, blatantly, more...

🗣️Forum discussions with the word(s) "red-handed" in the title:

(dead) bang to rights / red-handed
Caught out Vs Caught red-handed?
Caught red-handed/in the act
get caught red handed
Have I been caught red-handed or green-fingered?
He was caught red-handed/right on the spot
red-handed
red-handed and on the spot
red-handed used in a seemingly negative manner
red-handed/ flat-footed
She tailed him to catch him in the act/on the spot/red-handed.
was caught red-handed

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⇱ red-handed - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

red-handed