What does "Bang to rights" mean?

Caught with undeniable evidence of guilt. British slang for being caught with no possible defense—the evidence is conclusive.

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

They've got him bang to rights. It's bang to rights—he can't deny it. Caught bang to rights with the goods.

Bang to rights

Slang Term British ★★★★☆ Common Casual

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Meaning: Caught with undeniable evidence of guilt.

证据确凿地被抓

pillado con pruebas irrefutables de culpabilidad

否定できない証拠を持って捕まる

부인할 수 없는 증거로 잡히다

British slang for being caught with no possible defense—the evidence is conclusive.

英国俚语，表示被抓且无法辩解——证据是决定性的。

Argot británico para ser pillado sin posible defensa—las pruebas son concluyentes.

弁解の余地なく捕まることを表すイギリススラング—証拠が決定的。

영국 속어로 변명의 여지가 없이 잡힌 것을 가리키며, 결정적인 증거가 있는 상태를 말한다.

Literal meaning: Caught absolutely correctly/rightly

Examples

They've got him bang to rights.
他们人赃俱获
Lo tienen con las pruebas en la mano
彼らは彼を完全に押さえた
그들이 그를 꼼짝 못 하게 잡았다.
It's bang to rights—he can't deny it.
铁证如山——他无法否认
Es irrefutable, no puede negarlo
言い逃れできない—否定できない
완벽한 증거야—부인할 수 없어.
Caught bang to rights with the goods.
带着赃物被人赃俱获
Pillado con el botín, sin escapatoria
盗品を持って完全に捕まった
장물을 갖고 있다가 딱 걸렸다.

Pronunciation

/bæŋ tə raɪts/

Usage Guide

Context: caught, evidence, certain guilt

Tone: emphatic, conclusive

✓ Do Say

Bang to rights.
人赃俱获
Con pruebas irrefutables
言い逃れできない
딱 걸렸다.
Got him bang to rights.
把他抓个正着
Lo tienen con pruebas irrefutables
彼を完全に押さえた
완벽하게 잡았다.
It's bang to rights.
证据确凿
Es irrefutable
言い逃れできない
꼼짝 못 하게 걸렸다.

✗ Don't Say

Definitely guilty
Definitely guilty（绝对有罪）
Definitely guilty（Definitivamente culpable）
Definitely guilty（確実に有罪）
확실히 유죄다
Caught conclusively
Caught conclusively（确凿地被抓）
Caught conclusively（Pillado de forma concluyente）
Caught conclusively（決定的に捕まった）
결정적으로 잡혔다

Common Mistakes

Very British expression
Often used in police dramas

Origin & History

British police slang for certain conviction.

Etymology: British police slang

First recorded: 20th century

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: The Bill; British crime dramas

Regional notes: British expression—may not be understood in US.

Variations

Bang to rightsGot him bang to rightsCaught bang to rights