(as) guilty as hell

slang Definitely or totally guilty. Come on, the brother is guilty as hell. They found his shoe-prints right next to the weapon at the scene of the crime! I know you ate my cookies! That chocolate on your face tells me you're as guilty as hell! He looked guilty as hell when I asked if he was the one who broke the lamp.

(as) guilty as sin

Extremely guilty. I know who ate the chocolate chip cookies—there's chocolate all over your face! You're guilty as sin! He looked guilty as sin when I asked if he was the one who broke the lamp. Come on, the brother is guilty as sin. They found his shoe-prints right next to the weapon at the scene of the crime!

a guilty conscience needs no accuser

proverb A feeling of guilt and remorse can be so strong that it will prompt an offender to confess, even if no one is requiring them to do so. Gary felt so guilty after taking the money out of Bill's wallet that he confessed and returned it a day later. A guilty conscience needs no accuser. A: "I can't believe the neighbor confessed to the murder! The police didn't even suspect him." B: "Well, a guilty conscience needs no accuser." I think the student who stole the mascot will come forward all on their own because a guilty conscience needs no accuser.

be (as) guilty as sin

To be extremely guilty. I know who ate the chocolate chip cookies—there's chocolate all over your face! You're guilty as sin! He looked like he was guilty as sin when I asked if he was the one who broke the lamp. Come on, the brother is guilty as sin. They found his shoe-prints right next to the weapon at the scene of the crime!

feel guilty

To feel ashamed and remorseful about something. Thanks for being so nice about everything, but I still feel guilty about interrupting your date. I know Jen pretty well, and I think she feels guilty about upsetting you. I don't think he felt guilty at all about ditching me last night! What a jerk!

find (one) guilty

To determine and declare in court that one is guilty of a crime. How serious do you think the prison sentence will be if the jury finds him guilty? Considering all the evidence against him, I would be shocked if they don't find him guilty. Life as you know it is over if the jury finds you guilty. I hope breaking the law with your idiot friends was worth it.

find (one) not guilty

To determine and declare in court that one is innocent of a crime. I don't know how the jury found him not guilty, considering all the evidence against him. I hope that the jury will find my husband not guilty, but I don't want to get blindsided by a guilty verdict either. How could they possibly find that creep not guilty? His fingerprints were all over the crime scene!

guilty by association

Regarded as culpable due merely to one's association with a particular person, group, or thing. In reality, the CEO had nothing to do with the scandal perpetrated by the company's Chief Technology Officer, but he's being seen as guilty by association in the eyes of the public. The popular Internet forum was never intended to serve as a platform for extremism, but it has become guilty by association over the years due to the increasing prevalence of such views being published and shared there. A: "Why are you in trouble? You weren't even involved with the prank." B: "I'm guilty by association as the captain of the team."

guilty pleasure

Something that one enjoys or finds pleasurable but knows or feels to be bad, inferior, aberrant, or lowbrow, especially as might be perceived or judged by other people. I know these gossip magazines are trashy, but reading them on my commute home is my guilty pleasure! My husband watches a lot of trashy TV at night—not that I don't have my guilty pleasures, too, mind you. It's a bit of a guilty pleasure, but I really love watching cheesy horror movies.

plead guilty (to something)

To formally admit and declare that one is guilty (of some crime or accusation). The defendant avoided a possible death sentence by pleading guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter. My client pleads guilty, your honor.

plead not guilty (to something)

To formally deny that one is guilty (of some crime or accusation). The defendant pleaded not guilty, and he will go to trial where he will face the possibility of life in prison, or even death. My client pleads not guilty, your honor.

feel guilty (about something)

to feel that one is to blame for something; to feel intense regret for something that one has done. I feel guilty for forgetting about your birthday. You shouldn't feel guilty about the accident. It's not your fault.

find someone guilty

and find someone innocent; find someone not guilty

to decide guilt or innocence and deliver a verdict in a court of law. The judge found the defendant not guilty by reason of insanity. The jury found the defendant innocent.

A guilty conscience needs no accuser.

Prov. If you have done something wrong and feel guilty about it, you will be uncomfortable and want to confess even if no one accuses you of wrongdoing. Even though no one noticed him eating most of the cookies, Peter felt so bad about it that he told us what he had done. A guilty conscience needs no accuser.

plead guilty to something

to state that one is guilty of a crime before a court of law. Gerald refused to plead guilty to the crime and had to stand trial. Max pleaded guilty to the charge and then fled town.