Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

dead to rights

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: 4.89 in modern English

Syllables: dead- -to rights
IPA

18

Scrabble Score

12

Letters

3

Syllables

10

Unique Chars

Meaning

adv

With sufficient evidence to establish responsibility definitively.

American usage

Example Sentences

"have someone dead to rights on something"
"Because of the video replay, the ref had him dead to rights on the penalty."

Etymology

US, 1854, originally New York City criminal slang, thence entered general use. dead (“completely, utterly”) + to rights (“properly”).

Usage

American usage

Phrases

guilty as charged

Frequently Paired Words

guilty as charged

Synonyms

bang to rights red-handed blameworthily compunctiously dead to rights guiltylike guiltily nocently red-handedly

Questions

What does dead to rights mean?: With sufficient evidence to establish responsibility definitively.
Where does dead to rights come from?: US, 1854, originally New York City criminal slang, thence entered general use. dead (“completely, utterly”) + to rights (“properly”).

How to pronounce dead to rights

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