Butcher 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 there's an association between them I don't understand?
I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for red-handed that I've seen before include "Colourfully caught in the act" , "(Caught) in the act of committing a crime" , "In the act of crime - may be caught thus" , "(Taken) in the act" , "Catch someone thus in the act" .)