take the fifth

English

Alternative forms

• take the Fifth

Etymology

A reference to the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which states, among other things, that it may not be required of one to testify against oneself.

Pronunciation

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Verb

take the fifth (third-person singular simple present takes the fifth, present participle taking the fifth, simple past took the fifth, past participle taken the fifth)

1. (idiomatic) To decline to comment, especially on grounds that it might be incriminating.

   If you ask me who ate the last of the ice cream, I will simply take the fifth.

   • 2022 July 8, Barton Gellman, quoting Michael Flynn, “What Happened to Michael Flynn?”, in The Atlantic‎^[1]:

     “Do you believe the violence on January 6 was justified morally?” she asked. Flynn squinted, truculent. “Take the Fifth,” he said.

Synonyms

• plead the Fifth

Related vocabulary

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