take the Fifth

Idioms  

1. 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]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

take the Fifth

Anwar said she did not appear in court “due to the nature and content of the petition,” as well as her decision to take the Fifth Amendment, she wrote in an email to The Times.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 12, 2025

"I did not take the Fifth for that testimony or any question within that testimony!"

From Salon ● Dec. 8, 2022

Prosecutors argued he was not in legal jeopardy and therefore could not take the Fifth, but a federal judge disagreed with the government.

From Washington Post ● Nov. 3, 2022

"You cannot call a witness to the stand in a trial that is going to take the Fifth Amendment," Cardoza explained.

From Fox News ● Aug. 7, 2021

Asked whether he prescribed it for himself, he said, “I’ll take the Fifth on that one.”

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 29, 2020

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