plead the Fifth
See also: plead the fifth
English
Verb
plead the Fifth (third-person singular simple present pleads the Fifth, present participle pleading the Fifth, simple past and past participle pled the Fifth or pleaded the Fifth)
- (law, US) To invoke the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which protects witnesses from being forced to incriminate themselves.
- (informal) To refuse to answer a question, or refuse to speak, especially when the response would reflect badly on the speaker.
Synonyms
- take the fifth
References
- The Free Dictionary