take/plead the fifth

take the fifth (amendment)

1. To refuse to testify against oneself in court, in accordance with the right guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, part of the Bill of Rights. The defendant took the fifth after every question the prosecution put to him. There is speculation that he will take the fifth amendment if he is asked about his actions under oath.

2. By extension, to refuse to answer a question or provide information, especially if doing so may incriminate or embarrass oneself. Just take the fifth if your mom asks where you've been all night! A: "So, I hear things got pretty messy at the party last night." B: "Yeah, I'm going to have to take the fifth amendment on that one!"

See also: fifth, take

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

take the Fifth

Refuse to answer on the grounds that one may incriminate oneself, as in He took the Fifth on so many of the prosecutor's questions that we're sure he's guilty. This idiom refers to the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which states that no person shall be compelled to be a witness against himself or herself. [Mid-1900s]

See also: fifth, take

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

take the fifth

(in the USA) exercise the right of refusing to answer questions in order to avoid incriminating yourself.

The reference in this phrase is to Article V of the ten original amendments ( 1791 ) to the Constitution of the United States, which states that ‘no person…shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself’.

See also: fifth, take

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

take/plead the ˈfifth

(American English) 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 guiltyFrom the Fifth Amendment of the US Constitution, which guarantees this right.

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. The lawyer just sat there and said, “Five it” after every question.

2. tv. to decline to answer any questions. I’ll take the fifth on that one. Ask Fred.

See also: fifth, take

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

See also:

wash (one's) hands of (someone or something)
wash hands of
wash one's hands of
wash your hands of
wash your hands of somebody/something
wash your hands of something/someone
for (one's) (own) sake
for sake
keep in sight
keep sight of (someone or something)

词组	take/plead the fifth
释义	take/plead the fifth take the fifth (amendment) 1. To refuse to testify against oneself in court, in accordance with the right guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, part of the Bill of Rights. The defendant took the fifth after every question the prosecution put to him. There is speculation that he will take the fifth amendment if he is asked about his actions under oath. 2. By extension, to refuse to answer a question or provide information, especially if doing so may incriminate or embarrass oneself. Just take the fifth if your mom asks where you've been all night! A: "So, I hear things got pretty messy at the party last night." B: "Yeah, I'm going to have to take the fifth amendment on that one!" See also: fifth, take Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. take the Fifth Refuse to answer on the grounds that one may incriminate oneself, as in He took the Fifth on so many of the prosecutor's questions that we're sure he's guilty. This idiom refers to the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which states that no person shall be compelled to be a witness against himself or herself. [Mid-1900s] See also: fifth, take The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. take the fifth (in the USA) exercise the right of refusing to answer questions in order to avoid incriminating yourself. The reference in this phrase is to Article V of the ten original amendments ( 1791 ) to the Constitution of the United States, which states that ‘no person…shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself’. See also: fifth, take Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary take/plead the ˈfifth (American English) 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 guiltyFrom the Fifth Amendment of the US Constitution, which guarantees this right. See also: fifth, plead, take Farlex Partner 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. The lawyer just sat there and said, “Five it” after every question. 2. tv. to decline to answer any questions. I’ll take the fifth on that one. Ask Fred. See also: fifth, take McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions See also: wash (one's) hands of (someone or something) wash hands of wash one's hands of wash your hands of wash your hands of somebody/something wash your hands of something/someone for (one's) (own) sake for sake keep in sight keep sight of (someone or something)
随便看	not know whether one is coming or going not know whether one is coming or going and not know if one is ... not know whether to laugh or cry not know whether to laugh or (to) cry not know whether you are coming or going not know whether you're coming or going not know which end is up not know which way to look not know which way to turn not know which way/where to look not know which way/where to turn not know you are born not know your arse from your elbow not know you're born not lay a finger on someone not lay a finger on (someone or something) not least not leave (one's) side not leave somebody's side not let catch doing not let (someone) catch (one) (doing something) not let the grass grow beneath (one's) feet not let the grass grow under feet not let the grass grow under (one's) feet not let the grass grow under your feet