catch red-handed

To be caught in the act of doing something wrong.

在做错事当中被抓住

Dating back to Scotland in 1432, this term refers to an old English law that sought the punishment of any person who butchered an animal that wasn’t his own. In order to be convicted, he had to be caught with the animal’s blood still on his hands.

这个词的使用可以追溯到1432年的苏格兰。当时有一项法律规定，任何人屠杀不属于自己的动物，都将受到惩罚。为了被定罪，他必须双手沾着动物的血被抓，也就是red hand。

Tom was stealing the car when the police drove by and caught him red-handed.

汤姆正在偷汽车时，警察开过去当场抓住了他。

A: We're taking him into custody.

我们要拘留他。

B: Oh, pleses! There must be some mistake.

拜托！你们肯定弄错了。

A: No mistake, sir.

证据确凿

B: What's happened?

怎么回事？

A: Caught red-handed.

抓了个现行。

《帕丁顿熊》