Meaning of the word "plead the fifth" in English
What does "plead the fifth" mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.
plead the fifth
US /pliːd ðə fɪfθ/
UK /pliːd ðə fɪfθ/
Idiom
1.
to refuse to answer a question in court on the grounds that you might incriminate yourself, referring to the Fifth Amendment to the US Constitution
Example:
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When asked about the missing documents, the witness decided to plead the fifth.
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You can't force me to answer; I'm going to plead the fifth.
2.
to refuse to answer a question, often in a casual context, implying that the answer might be incriminating or embarrassing
Example:
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When asked who ate the last cookie, he just smiled and said he'd have to plead the fifth.
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I'm not telling you how much I spent on that, I'm going to plead the fifth!
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