Red-handed definitions
| Word backwards | dednah-der |
|---|---|
| Part of speech | adjective |
| Syllabic division | red-hand-ed |
| Plural | The plural of "red-handed" is "red-handed." It does not change when referring to multiple people caught in the act of doing something wrong. |
| Total letters | 9 |
| Vogais (2) | e,a |
| Consonants (4) | r,d,h,n |
When someone is caught red-handed, it means they have been apprehended in the act of doing something wrong or illegal. The phrase comes from the idea that the person's hands are stained with the evidence of their wrongdoing, making it undeniable that they are guilty.
Origin of the Term
The expression "caught red-handed" has its origins in Scotland, where there was a law that required any person who was caught with blood on their hands to be presumed guilty of the crime of theft. The idea was that if someone was caught with blood on their hands while in the act of stealing, it was clear evidence of their guilt.
Usage in Modern Language
Today, the term "red-handed" is used more generally to refer to being caught in the act of doing something wrong, whether it involves blood or not. It can apply to situations where someone is caught in the act of cheating, lying, or committing any other kind of misconduct.
Examples of Usage
Imagine a child with chocolate all over their face and hands, denying they ate any cookies. The parent might say, "I caught you red-handed!" Or in a more serious scenario, a thief who is apprehended while in the process of stealing might be said to have been caught red-handed.
Overall, being caught red-handed means that there is clear and indisputable evidence of someone's guilt. It is a term that has stood the test of time and is still widely used in modern language to describe situations where someone is caught in the act of wrongdoing.
Red-handed Examples
- The thief was caught red-handed stealing from the store.
- She walked in on her brother red-handed, eating the last cookie.
- The detective was able to apprehend the suspect red-handed in the act of vandalism.
- He was caught red-handed cheating on the exam.
- The employee was fired after being caught red-handed stealing money from the cash register.
- The teacher caught the students red-handed, passing notes during the lesson.
- The chef was caught red-handed adding extra salt to the dish.
- The photographer was caught red-handed editing the photos to make them look better.
- The toddler was caught red-handed drawing on the walls with markers.
- The politician was caught red-handed accepting bribes.