red-handed

red-handed
red-handed 1819, earlier red-hand (early 15c.), originally in Scottish legal writing, from RED (Cf. red) (1) + HAND (Cf. hand), presumably from the image of a murderer caught in the act, with blood on the hands.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Red-handed — may refer to:* Red handed Howler, New World monkey * Red handed Tamarin, New World monkey * The expression Caught red handed or In flagrante delicto …   Wikipedia

  • Red-handed — Red hand Red hand (r?d h?nd ), Red handed Red hand ed ( h?nd ?d), a. or adv. Having hands red with blood; in the very act, as if with red or bloody hands; said of a person taken in the act of homicide; hence, fresh from the commission of crime;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Red Handed — (foaled 1962 in New Zealand) was a thoroughbred racehorse who won the Melbourne Cup in 1967.Bred by Jack Macky, Jr., he was owned and raced by F. W. Clarke and partners. References* [http://www.pedigreequery.com/red+handed Red Handed s pedigree… …   Wikipedia

  • red-handed — adj catch sb red handed to catch someone at the moment when they are doing something wrong ▪ Earl was caught red handed taking the money …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • red-handed — red handedness, n. /red han did/, 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] * * * …   Universalium

  • red-handed — red hand|ed [ ,red hændıd ] adjective be caught red handed to be caught doing something wrong …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • red-handed — [ˌred ˈhændɪd] adj be caught red handed to be caught doing something wrong[/ex] …   Dictionary for writing and speaking English

  • red-handed — [red′han′did] adv. [< the notion of the hands covered with a victim s blood] 1. while committing a crime or doing some wrong 2. in an undeniably incriminating or compromising situation …   English World dictionary

  • red-handed — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ in or just after the act of doing something wrong …   English terms dictionary

  • red-handed — /rɛd ˈhændəd / (say red handuhd) phrase catch red handed, to discover in the very act of a crime or other deed: to catch a thief red handed …  

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