pleading

Related to pleading: special pleading

plead down to (something)

1. To formally admit and declare that one is guilty of a lesser criminal charge. The defendant pleaded down to a manslaughter charge to avoid the death penalty. He pleaded down to a single charge of perjury in exchange for cooperating with the FBI's investigation of the drug cartel.
2. To receive a lower punishment or prison sentence by formally admitting to a lesser criminal charge. She pled down to 18 months in prison. You might be able to plead down to 10 years, but if you go to trial, you're looking at life in prison.
3. To negotiate a deal with prosecutors or a judge in which a guilty plea is formally made for a lesser criminal charge on someone else's behalf. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "plead" and "down." The defense attorney managed to plead him down to a misdemeanor. He pleaded his client down to a reckless endangerment charge.
4. To negotiate a deal with prosecutors or a judge on someone else's behalf so that they a lower punishment or prison sentence is formally admitting to a lesser criminal charge. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "plead" and "down." I've built a good rapport with the judge overseeing your case, and I think we might be able to plead you down to community service. My attorney pled me down to 15 years in a minimum security prison, which sure as hell beats the prospect of life behind bars.
See also: down, plead

plead for

1. To beg someone or appeal in earnest to someone's good nature for something to happen or be granted. The prisoner threw himself at the king's feet, pleading for his life. Daniel pleaded for a bit more time to finish the project, but the boss went ahead and fired him for the delay.
2. To beg someone or appeal in earnest to someone's good nature for someone to be spared some fate or treatment. The mother pleaded for her son, but the king had him executed on the spot. She pleaded for her brother when their mother threatened to whip him with the belt.
See also: plead

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.
See also: guilty, plead

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.
See also: guilty, not, plead

plead the Fifth (Amendment)

1. To refuse to testify against oneself in court, in accordance with the rights guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The alleged kingpin of the east coast drug cartel simply pled the Fifth after every question the prosecution put to him.
2. By extension, to refuse to answer a question or provide information, especially if doing so may incriminate or embarrass oneself. Just plead the Fifth if your mom asks where you've been all night! A: "So, I hear things got pretty messy at the bar last night." B: "Yeah, I'm going to have to plead the Fifth Amendment on that one!"
See also: fifth, plead

plead to (something)

To formally admit and declare that one is guilty of a particular crime. The defendant pleaded to manslaughter to avoid a murder conviction.
See also: plead

plead with (one)

To beg one or appeal in earnest to one's good nature (for something or to do something). I pleaded with him to reconsider, but he said his mind was made up. Don't go pleading with your mother for more ice cream—you've already had enough!
See also: plead
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

plead for someone

to beg for someone to be spared. Tom pleaded for Dave, but it was no use. Dave was found guilty. She pleaded for her husband, but the judge sentenced him to ten years in prison.
See also: plead

plead for something

to beg for something. I don't want to have to plead for what's already mine. The children were pleading for ice cream, so we got some for them.
See also: plead
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • plead
  • plead down to (something)
  • pled
  • TIIC
  • level a charge against
  • level a charge against (one)
  • cop a plea
  • impeach
  • impeach (someone) for (something)
  • impeach for
References in periodicals archive
| Elliott Auton, 22, of Rockingham Close, Warrington, was sentenced to five years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply cocaine.
/ Jamie Simpson, of Delery Drive, [...]
Wayne Deluen, 25, of Blyth, has been jailed for 10 years after pleading guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent.
22 North East offenders who have been convicted and jailed throughout April; North East criminals who appeared in courts around the region and who were locked up throughout the month of April 2015
Sharon Wootton, 52, of Orchard Park, St Mellons, was fined PS60 and given three penalty points after pleading guilty to speeding.
BROUGHT TO JUSTICE
Shiva Kumar, 33, of Wyverne Road Cardiff, was fined pounds 60 and given three penalty points after pleading guilty to speeding in a 30mph area.
BROUGHT TO JUSTICE
- Anthony Thomas Quinn, 40, of Geriat Close, Thornhill, Cardiff, was fined pounds 75 after pleading guilty to jumping a red light in Western Avenue, Llandaff, Cardiff.
BROUGHT TO JUSTICE; Who's been in court?
Lee Robert Ellis, 35, of Grenchard Drive, Llanishen, Cardiff, was given an 18-month conditional discharge after pleading guilty to possessing heroin and cannabis and failing to surrender to custody.
BROUGHTTO JUSTICE Who's been in court?
- Russell Dean McCullough, 37, of Pennsylvania, Llanedeyrn, Cardiff, was given a 12-month conditional discharge after pleading guilty to stealing three DVD box sets worth pounds 95 on July 12.
BROUGHT TO JUSTICE; Who's been in court?
- Samuel Albert Brooks, 28, of Holly Road, Risca, Newport, was banned for six months and given a 12-month community order after pleading guilty to driving without a licence on City Road, Cardiff.
BROUGHT TO JUSTICE; Who's been in court?
The following cases were heard at Cardiff Magistrates' Court: - Raymond O'Brien, 43, of Green Meadows, Rumney, Cardiff, was fined pounds 150 after pleading guilty to being disorderly in public.
BROUGHT TO JUSTICE; Who's been in court?
THE following cases were heard at Cardiff Magistrates' Court: - Christopher John Martindale, 33, of Bishop Hannon Drive, Fairwater, Cardiff, was fined pounds 30 after pleading guilty to keeping an unlicensed vehicle on a public road.
BROUGHT TO JUSTICE; Who's been in court?
The following cases were heard before Cardiff Magistrates' Court - Anthony Parle, 43, of Llanidloes Road, Llandaff, Cardiff, was fined pounds 300 with pounds 55 costs and had his licence endorsed with 10 penalty points after pleading guilty to driving without due care and attention, failing to stop and provide details after an accident and failing to report an accident.
BROUGHT TO JUSTICE; Who's been in court?
The following cases have been heard at Cardiff Magistrates Court: - Osman Elayeh, 23, of Clare Street, Riverside, Cardiff, was fined pounds 120, ordered to pay pounds 45 costs, pounds 15 victim surcharge and disqualified from driving for 56 days after pleading guilty to driving without insurance and driving without a valid licence.
BROUGHT TO JUSTICE; Who's been in court?
- Lee Anthony Dancy, 20, of Trowbridge Green, Rumney, Cardiff, was given a 12-month conditional discharge after pleading guilty to two counts of criminal damage.
BROUGHT TO JUSTICE; Who's been in court?
Pleadings, Minutes of Public Sittings and Documents 2014; Volume 21: The M/V "Virginia G" Case (Panama/Guinea-Bissau)
Pleadings, Minutes of Public Sittings and Documents 2014; Volume 21: The M/V "Virginia G" Case (Panama/Guinea-Bissau)
That's the thinking that led to the launch of LexisNexis Mealey's Mealey's Mass Tort Pleadings, with which attorneys can access briefs as they are filed and the complete brief set at the pleadings level in many mass tort cases.
Mealey's sets sights on tort pleadings