catch sb red-handed

Are you using the idiom catch sb red-handed but not sure about its meaning? Using idioms, which are important elements of spoken and written language, in the right place strengthens your language skills. Examine the meaning of the catch sb red-handed idiom and the situations in which it is used.

Meaning of "catch sb red-handed"

Meaning

The phrase “catch someone red-handed” is used to describe when someone is caught in the act of doing something wrong. This phrase is typically used when someone has either been caught in the middle of an illegal or immoral act, or when they have been caught in the middle of telling a lie. The phrase implies that the person is completely caught in the act, and that there is no way for them to deny it.

Etymology

The phrase “catch someone red-handed” has its origins in Scotland. It is thought to have originated from a law in the 15th century, which stated that if a person was caught with the blood of a dead animal on their hands, they were guilty of killing the animal. This phrase eventually evolved into the phrase “catch someone red-handed”, which has become a common phrase today.

Usage

The phrase “catch someone red-handed” is typically used to describe when a person is caught in the middle of doing something wrong. This phrase is often used in criminal proceedings to describe when a suspect has been caught in the act of committing a crime. It is also often used in everyday conversations to describe when someone has been caught in the middle of telling a lie or doing something else wrong. In either case, the phrase implies that the person has been caught and there is no way for them to deny it.

Example Sentences

• The police caught the suspect red-handed as he was trying to break into a car.
• I caught my husband red-handed when he was trying to hide an extra dessert from me.
• He was caught red-handed, and there was no way for him to deny it.

The universal role of idioms

"Kill two birds with one stone" is an English idiom that means to accomplish two things with a single action. In French, the similar idiom is "Faire d'une pierre deux coups," which translates to "To kill two birds with one stone." This idiom highlights the efficiency of completing two tasks with one action.