Once in a blue moon

[0365] Caught red-handed

🎲 White lie
English Idioms
All Idioms

Explanation

  • Discovered in the very act of doing something wrong or illegal.
  • Caught with clear evidence of guilt.

Origin

  • The most widely accepted origin relates to being caught with blood on one's hands, particularly after a murder or illegal poaching (where catching the animal was forbidden).
  • Having red hands was considered undeniable proof of guilt.
  • The term appears in Scottish law texts as far back as the 15th century.

Synonyms & Related Expressions

  • Caught in the act
  • Busted (Informal)
  • Nabbed (Informal)
  • Nailed (Informal)
  • Caught with one's hand in the cookie jar (Specifically for minor transgressions or taking something sneakily)

Alternatives

Slang/Informal:

  • Busted
  • Nabbed
  • Gotcha! (Said at the moment of catching someone)
  • Bang to rights (UK Caught with conclusive evidence)

Vulgar/Emphatic:

  • Caught with their fucking pants down. (Caught unprepared or in an embarrassing/compromising situation, often implies wrongdoing)
  • Nailed their ass.

Situational Appropriateness

  • Informal to semi-formal.
  • Common in news reports about crime, but also used casually for minor wrongdoings.

Misunderstanding Warnings

  • The literal red hands are not usually present; it's purely idiomatic for being caught in the act with clear proof.

Examples

  • The kids were caught red-handed trying to sneak cookies before dinner.
  • The police caught the burglar red-handed inside the house.
  • She was caught red-handed cheating on the exam.

Dialogue

Officer Miller: We received a call about a break-in and found him inside the jewelry store, pockets full of rings.

Detective Lee: So, caught red-handed then. Makes the paperwork easier.

Officer Miller: Exactly. Open and shut case.

Social Media Examples

  • News Headline Tweet: CEO caught red-handed using company funds for personal luxury yacht. #CorporateGreed #Busted
  • Facebook Post: My dog thought he was being sneaky... caught red-handed with the loaf of bread! 😂🐶 #dogshaming #caughtredhanded

Response Patterns

  • Shock/Disbelief: No way! Really?
  • Confirmation (from an observer): Yep, saw it with my own eyes.
  • Denial (from the accused, often futile): It wasn't me! / It's not what it looks like!
  • Inquiry about consequences: What happened next? Did they get into trouble?

Common Follow-up Questions/Actions

After hearing someone was caught red-handed:

  • Asking for details: What were they doing exactly?
  • Asking about the evidence: How did they get caught?
  • Asking about the outcome: So what happened to them?

Conversation Starter

  • Usually not an opener, but used when recounting an event or reporting news.

Intonation

  • Emphasis usually on CAUGHT and RED-HANDED.
  • Often spoken with a tone of certainty, accusation, or sometimes amusement (if the wrongdoing is minor). CAUGHT RED-HANDED.

Generation Differences

  • Widely understood across generations.

Regional Variations

  • Common in all major English-speaking regions. Bang to rights is distinctly British.
Once in a blue moon
🎲 White lie