Definition
With sufficient evidence to establish responsibility definitively.
Origins
US, 1854, originally New York City criminal slang, thence entered general use. dead (“completely, utterly”) + to rights (“properly”).
In Context
- "have someone dead to rights on something"
- "Because of the video replay, the ref had him dead to rights on the penalty."
Also Said As
- bang to rights
- red-handed
- bang to rights
- blameworthily
- compunctiously
- dead to rights
- guiltylike
- guiltily
- nocently
- red-handedly
See Also
- guilty as charged