Phrase guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
adv
Red-handed, (caught) in the act.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, idiomatic, not-comparable, usually
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: dead to rights, bang to rights, blameworthily, compunctiously, guiltylike, guiltily, nocently, red-handedly
Antonyms: none provided
adv
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see bang (adverb), to rights.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable, usually
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To have sufficient, indisputable evidence that a person's actions are generally perceived to be wrong; to catch red-handed.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, idiomatic, rare
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
From bang (“completely”) + to rights (“properly”). Originally US; attested from the start of the 20th century.
From reinterpretation of bang (“completely”) as bang (“to handle noisily or violently”).
