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take the fifth

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take the fifth (amendment)

also plead the fifth (amendment)

to avoid answering a question, esp. that could cause embarrassment I plead the fifth - I don't know where your girlfriend went!

Etymology: based on the Fifth Amendment of the US Bill of Rights which says you do not have to answer questions about yourself in a court if your answers could show you are involved in a criminal activity

See also: fifth, take

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

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