How do you use "Dead to rights" in a sentence?

The security camera had him dead to rights stealing the car. She was dead to rights — fingerprints, DNA, and three witnesses. They had us dead to rights, so we just surrendered.

Dead to rights

Q: What does "Dead to rights" mean?

Caught red-handed with undeniable evidence of guilt. When someone is caught in a situation where there is no possible defense or excuse. 'They had him dead to rights' means the evidence was so overwhelming that conviction was guaranteed.

American Slang Term American ★★★★☆ Common Casual

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Meaning: Caught red-handed with undeniable evidence of guilt.

被当场抓获，证据确凿无可辩驳。

Pillado con las manos en la masa, con pruebas irrefutables de culpabilidad.

言い逃れできない証拠とともに現行犯で捕まること。

부인할 수 없는 증거와 함께 현행범으로 잡히는 것.

When someone is caught in a situation where there is no possible defense or excuse. 'They had him dead to rights' means the evidence was so overwhelming that conviction was guaranteed.

当某人被抓到在一种完全无法辩护或找借口的情况下。'他们人赃并获'意味着证据确凿到定罪是板上钉钉的事。

Cuando alguien es atrapado en una situación en la que no hay defensa ni excusa posible. 'Lo tenían pillado de lleno' significa que las pruebas eran tan abrumadoras que la condena estaba garantizada.

弁解や言い訳が一切できない状況で捕まること。「They had him dead to rights」は証拠があまりにも圧倒的で有罪判決が確実だったことを意味する。

어떤 변명이나 방어도 불가능한 상황에서 잡히는 것이다. 'They had him dead to rights'는 증거가 너무 압도적이어서 유죄 판결이 확실했다는 뜻이다.

Examples

The security camera had him dead to rights stealing the car.
监控摄像头拍下了他偷车的铁证。
La cámara de seguridad lo pilló con las manos en la masa robando el coche.
防犯カメラが車を盗む彼の姿をばっちり捉えていた。
보안 카메라가 그가 차를 훔치는 장면을 완벽하게 포착했다.
She was dead to rights — fingerprints, DNA, and three witnesses.
她完全无法脱罪——指纹、DNA，还有三个目击证人。
Estaba totalmente pillada — huellas dactilares, ADN y tres testigos.
彼女は完全にアウトだった——指紋、DNA、そして3人の目撃者。
그녀는 완전히 끝이었다 — 지문, DNA, 그리고 목격자 3명.
They had us dead to rights, so we just surrendered.
他们掌握了我们的确凿证据，所以我们只好投降了。
Nos tenían pillados de lleno, así que simplemente nos rendimos.
完全に証拠を押さえられていたので、我々はただ降参した。
증거가 완벽하게 잡혀서 우리는 그냥 항복했다.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: legal situations, being caught, undeniable evidence

Tone: absolute, decisive

✓ Do Say

They had him dead to rights.
他们人赃并获了。
Lo tenían pillado de lleno.
完全に証拠を押さえられていた。
완벽하게 증거가 잡혔어.
She was caught dead to rights.
她被当场抓个正着。
La pillaron con las manos en la masa.
彼女は現行犯で捕まった。
그녀는 현행범으로 잡혔어.

✗ Don't Say

Implies complete certainty of guilt — don't use loosely.
暗示百分之百确定有罪——不要随便用。
Implica certeza total de culpabilidad — no lo uses a la ligera.
完全な有罪を意味する——軽い場面では使わないこと。
완전한 유죄 확신을 암시하므로 가볍게 사용하지 마라.

Origin & History

From 1850s American legal slang. 'Dead' meaning absolutely; 'to rights' meaning with full justice. Combined: absolutely caught.

Cultural Context

Era: 1850s–present

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Regional notes: All regions — universal American idiom