The Beginnings of 12 Everyday Expressions You Use Without Knowing Why

"Caught Red-Handed" — Blood and Justice

The phrase "caught red-handed" is used to describe someone caught in the act of wrongdoing, particularly theft or crime. Its origins are traced back to 15th-century Scotland, where the term "red hand" was used in legal contexts to describe someone caught with blood on their hands after committing murder or poaching. The literal presence of blood served as undeniable evidence of guilt, leading to the phrase's association with being caught in the act. The evolution of this expression from a literal legal term to a figurative idiom highlights the role of language in the administration of justice. In a time when forensic science was nonexistent, tangible evidence like blood was crucial in establishing guilt. As legal systems evolved, the phrase "caught red-handed" transitioned into a metaphor for being caught in any act of wrongdoing, regardless of the presence of physical evidence.