Dictionary Home » Phrase Meanings » dead to rights

What does "dead to rights" mean?

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]

link/cite print suggestion box

What does "dead to rights" mean?

More from YD