The phrase “caught red-handed” is an idiom that means to be caught in the act of committing a misdemeanor or doing something wrong. The phrase is believed to have originated in Scotland around the 15th century. The term “red-handed” refers to the appearance of a person’s hands after committing a crime, which may be stained with blood or ink.
For example, if someone is caught stealing money from a cash register, they can be said to have been caught “red-handed”.
