Here's the breakdown:
* Red-handed: This refers to the blood-stained hands of a thief who has just slaughtered an animal for its meat. In the past, stealing livestock was a common crime, and the thief would often be caught with blood on their hands.
* Caught: This implies the act of being apprehended or discovered while committing the crime.
The phrase was first recorded in English in the 16th century, and its use has evolved over time to encompass any act of being caught in the act, regardless of whether blood is involved.
So, the next time you hear someone say they were "caught red-handed," you know it's a colorful way of saying they were caught doing something they shouldn't have been!