Abattoir-worker might be caught thus! (3-6)
I believe the answer is:
red-handed
'thus' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adverbs.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I can't see?
'abattoir-worker might be caught' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'worker' could be 'hand' (hand is a kind of worker) and 'hand' is found in the answer.
The remaining letters 'reded' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for red-handed that I've seen before include "(Caught) in the act of committing a crime" , "In the act of crime - may be caught thus" , "Catch someone thus in the act" , "(Taken) in the act" , "Caught ... ......, apprehended in the act of crime" .)