caught red-handed; police/criminal vernacular often heard used jocularly
have sb dead to rights
Idiom(s): have sb dead to rights
Theme: PROOF
to have proven someone unquestionably guilty. • The police burst in on the robbers while they were at work. They had the robbers dead to rights. • All right, Tom! I've got you dead to rights! Get your hands out of the cookie jar.
dead to rights|dead|right|rights
adv. phr., informal Without a chance of escaping blame; proven wrong. Mother had Bob dead to rights, because she caught him with his hand in the cookie jar.The police caught the man dead to rights.
put to rights|put|rights|set|set to rights
v. phr., informal To put in good order; clean up. It took the company a long time to put the office to rights after the fire.It took Mrs. Smith an hour to set the room to rights after the party.
dead to rights
dead to rights In the act of committing an error or crime, red-handed. For example, They caught the burglars dead to rights with the Oriental rugs. This phrase uses to rights in the sense of “at once.” [Slang; mid-1800s]
set to rights Also, put to rights. Place in proper condition or order. For example, The caterer promised to set the room to rights before he left, or Don't worry, the lawyer will put the will to rights. These terms date from the second half of the 1600s, although to rights in the sense of “in proper order” was first recorded about 1330. Also see set right.
Into actual or able position, arrangement, condition, or order. (Especially in the byword "put/set (something) to rights.") I charge accomplish abiding I put the abode to rights afore my parents appear home this evening.Since actuality diagnosed with terminal cancer, I've amorphous ambience my will and banking diplomacy to rights.Learn more: right
to rights
In a satisfactory or alike condition: set the abode to rights.Learn more: rightLearn more:
An to rights idiom dictionary is a great resource for writers, students, and anyone looking to expand their vocabulary. It contains a list of words with similar meanings with to rights, allowing users to choose the best word for their specific context.
Словарь похожих слов, Разные формулировки, Синонимы, Идиомы для Идиома to rights