caught red handed
- bustedApprehended or broken
- guiltyResponsible for wrongdoing
- exposedOut in open
- discoveredFound something previously unknown
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
crime · stolen · hands · blood · witness · alibi · confession · deny · shame · confronted · incriminating · undeniable · thief · scene · proof · accused · cornered · escape
- idiomstime flies, hit the sack, seize the day, ring a bell, break a leg
- embarrassmentembarrassed, blush, humiliated, mortify, mortified
detection vs. concealment
caught red handedgot away with it
flew under the radar · left no trace · above suspicion · hidden in plain sight · unsuspected
guilt evidence
caught red handedexonerated
Cleared of wrongdoing
acquitted · vindicated · plausible deniability · absolved · off the hook
consequence/escape
caught red handedscot-free
Without penalty or harm
off the hook · beat the rap · unpunished · untouchable · slipped through the cracks