caught red-handed

catch (one) red-handed

To see, and perhaps apprehend, someone as they are doing something (often something nefarious). The phrase might have originally referred to blood on a murderer's hands. The police caught the robbers red-handed as they ransacked another house. Timmy tried to get into the cookie jar again, but I caught him red-handed.
See also: catch

caught red-handed

Seen or apprehended in the act of doing something, especially something illegal or nefarious. He tried to deny that he had stolen the money, but he was caught red-handed by security cameras.
See also: caught
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • catch (one) red-handed
  • catch red-handed
  • catch somebody red-handed
  • catch someone red-handed
  • caught in the act
  • catch somebody in the act
  • catch in the act
  • catch (one) in the act
  • catch (one) (doing something)
  • catch it
References in periodicals archive
"Simpson has spent time behind bars in the past and has now been jailed again after being caught red-handed by police last month.
LAHORE -- People caught red-handed two suspected robbers and subjected them to torture after they allegedly shot at and injured a trader in Baghbanpura area on Saturday.
A Paralimni bird trapper was caught red-handed for the sixth time, the Committee Against Bird Slaughter (Cabs) and the SPA (Stiftung Pro Artenvielfalt Foundation) said on Monday.
And JJ (@jennip2010) may have saved the best joke for last, saying: 'Caught red-handed.'
Morr.As per details, two men, attempting to open the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) were caught red-handed by the police.
Yesterday, President of Kyrgyzstan Sooronbai Jeenbekov ordered the Prime Minister to suspend Minister of Transport Jamshitbek Kalilov after his deputy was caught red-handed taking bribery.
He said that the applicant phoned the reader to come to a local hotel where he reached to collect the remaining money and he was caught red-handed.
They were caught red-handed while using excavators to carve out the mountain in Sala Krav district's Steung Kach commune on Friday.
Police told that the accused was caught red-handed by locals of the area concerned who overpowered him and handed him over to police for further legal action.
After Simon tells Tyler about Flora's new money, they hatch a plan to break into her flat and steal it, only to be caught red-handed by Flora herself.
According to witnesses, the old man was caught red-handed stealing from a shop in Dzendereni village, Kinango sub-county.The residents clobbered him to death.
Summary: The woman was caught red-handed while she was trapping another victim.
ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) steward Mohammad Shoaib, who was caught red-handed while smuggling, has been set free by the inquiry committee after being fined only Rs20,000.
Caught red-handed rewards students for thinking multiple moves ahead, and anticipating opponents' reactions.
Summary: Police announced the arrest of a Lebanese man Monday after he was caught red-handed paying a restaurant bill using forged currency.