- Meaning
- This idiom describes being caught in the act of stealing money or resources, typically from a place of trust such as a workplace or organization. The 'till' refers to a cash register or money box, symbolizing financial misconduct. The phrase conveys a sense of betrayal and undeniable guilt, often used in contexts of embezzlement, petty theft, or misuse of funds. It carries a tone of moral judgment, highlighting the breach of trust and the embarrassment of being exposed, and is frequently applied to both literal theft and metaphorical misappropriation of resources.
- Origin
- The phrase emerged in 19th-century Britain, tied to the rise of retail and cash-based commerce, where shopkeepers kept money in a 'till' (a drawer or box). 'Caught with your hand in the till' first appeared in legal and journalistic contexts to describe employees pilfering from employers. An early use is found in an 1857 *The Times* article reporting a shop assistant’s theft, described as 'having his hand in the till.' The phrase gained traction in the Victorian era, reflecting anxieties about financial honesty during industrialization. By the 20th century, it was metaphorical, applied to corporate fraud or political corruption, as seen in George Orwell’s essays on economic misconduct. Its vivid imagery and relevance to financial trust ensured its spread across English-speaking countries, particularly in business and legal discourse.
- Variants
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- Hand in the till
- Caught with your hand in the cashbox
- Caught dipping into the till
- Examples
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- The manager was caught with his hand in the till, siphoning off store profits for personal use.
- She was fired after being caught with her hand in the till, taking small amounts from the cash register.
- The politician was metaphorically caught with his hand in the till, misusing campaign funds.
- Caught with her hand in the till, she couldn’t deny diverting company resources to her side project.
- He was caught dipping into the till to cover his gambling debts, shattering his reputation.
- The treasurer was caught with his hand in the till, prompting an audit of the club’s finances.
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