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In flagrante delicto

//ɪn fləˌɡɹæn.teɪ dɪˈlɪk.təʊ// adv

Definitions

Adverb

1
In the act of committing a misdeed. not-comparable
"He would be caught in flagrante delicto, and, with a heavy sentence hovering over him, he would probably be induced to name his accomplice."
2
While performing sexual activity. not-comparable
"We've already established that you were one of Miss Scarlet's clients. That's why you were so desperate to get your hands on those negatives. Photographs of you and Yvette in flagrante delicto, remember?"

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from Medieval Latin in flagrante delicto (literally “while the crime is blazing”), from in + flāgrō (“burn”) + dēlictō, form of dēlīctum (“crime, misdeed”).

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