red-handed

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Bosses at the pub in Urmston, Greater Manchester, said they received an anonymous tip-off and caught the team "cheating red-handed" when players were spotted whispering into their smartwatches to get answers.

From BBC • Nov. 14, 2025

PUTIN’S QUOTE: “He was caught red-handed when he was secretly getting classified information.”

From Seattle Times • Feb. 9, 2024

“Even when he is literally caught red-handed, he won’t want to admit it.”

From New York Times • Feb. 2, 2024

That contrasted with its reaction after Gershkovich's arrest, when Peskov told reporters, without providing evidence, that the reporter had been "caught red-handed" while trying to obtain military secrets.

From Reuters • Oct. 20, 2023

And so we scramble to do what he says, because red-handed is red-handed, and this is martial law, and Jacqui’s motivational poster is truer than anything right now.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman