Dead to rights

Meaning

Caught in the act with clear evidence.

Usage

Used when someone is indisputably guilty or mistaken.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

Legal texts from the 1800s used the term to describe incontrovertible proof.

Appears in detective fiction and courtroom reports in the 19th and 20th centuries.