have (one) dead to rights
To have enough evidence to prove that one is guilty of a crime or other misdeed; to catch one committing a crime. Thanks to footage from the security cameras, the police had the burglars dead to rights. The teacher came up behind us as I was copying Lewis's test and had us both dead to rights.
have someone dead to rights
Fig. to have caught someone red-handed; to have irrefutable evidence about someone's misdeed. We have you dead to rights on this one. The cops had him dead to rights with damning testimony of two eyewitnesses.
have someone dead to rights
tv. to have caught someone red-handed; to have irrefutable evidence about someone’s misdeed. (see also (bang) dead to rights.) The cops had him dead to rights.