Meaning of old phrases

Posted by Bruce Kahl on September 03, 2001

In Reply to: Meaning of old phrases posted by Gloria on September 03, 2001

: What is the meaning of to be caught red-handed?

It means to be caught in the act of doing something.
In a fit of rage, the husband grabs a kitchen knife and plunges it into his wife. He severs one of her arteries and the blood spurts all over him and the kitchen. He runs from the house and is met at the door by a policeman who puts him under arrest for the attempted murder of his wife.
The husband is put on trial and is convicted when the arresting officer testifies about how he caught the husband "red-handed" running out of the house.