take the Fifth

take the Fifth
verb
refuse to testify by invoking the Fifth Amendment, which states that nobody may be forced to testify as a witness against himself or herself
Hypernyms: ↑declare
Verb Frames:
-

Somebody ——s

* * *

take the Fifth (US informal)
To refuse to testify, in accordance with the Fifth Amendment
fifth

* * *

(in the U.S.) exercise the right guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution of refusing to answer questions in order to avoid incriminating oneself

* * *

take/plead the ˈfifth idiom
(US) to make use of the right to refuse to answer questions in court about a crime, because you may give information which will make it seem that you are guilty From the Fifth Amendment of the US Constitution, which guarantees this right.
Main entry:fifthidiom

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Take the fifth — may refer to: *Taking the Fifth, the act of refusing to testify under oath in a court of law on the grounds that the answers that would be given would incriminate the person under oath * Take the Fifth , a song by Spoon from their 2001 album… …   Wikipedia

  • take the fifth — (USA) If you do not want to answer a question you can take the fifth, meaning you are choosing not to answer.  ( Plead the fifth is also used.) …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • take the fifth — ► take the fifth (in the US) exercise the right guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution to refuse to answer questions in order to avoid incriminating oneself. Main Entry: ↑fifth …   English terms dictionary

  • take the fifth — v. To invoke the Fifth Amendment as justification for refusing to answer a question in a criminal prosecution. The Essential Law Dictionary. Sphinx Publishing, An imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. Amy Hackney Blackwell. 2008 …   Law dictionary

  • take the fifth — (amendment) to avoid answering a question, esp. that could cause embarrassment. I plead the fifth I don t know where your girlfriend went! …   New idioms dictionary

  • take the fifth — 1. AND five it tv. to refuse to testify to a U.S. legislative committee under the protection of the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. □ His lawyer told him to take the fifth. □ The lawyer just sat there and said, “Five it.” after every… …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

  • take the fifth — {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. Taking refuge behind the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States which guarantees any witness the right not to incriminate himself while testifying at a trial. * /Alger Hiss took the Fifth when asked… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • take the fifth — {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. Taking refuge behind the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States which guarantees any witness the right not to incriminate himself while testifying at a trial. * /Alger Hiss took the Fifth when asked… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • take\ the\ fifth — v. phr. informal 1. taking refuge behind the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States which guarantees any witness the right not to incriminate himself while testifying at a trial. Alger Hiss took the Fifth when asked whether he… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • take the Fifth — hide behind the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution which guarantees any witness the right not to incriminate himself while testifying at a trial He decided to take the Fifth rather than tell the truth at the trial …   Idioms and examples

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”