TAKE THE FIFTH Meaning and
Definition
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"Take the Fifth," also known as "pleading the Fifth," is an idiomatic expression originating from the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution. It refers to an individual's right to refrain from answering a question or providing self-incriminating evidence in a legal proceeding. The Fifth Amendment, part of the Bill of Rights, protects citizens from being compelled to be witnesses against themselves in criminal cases. It states, "No person... shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself."
When someone "takes the Fifth," they are invoking their right to remain silent to avoid making statements that could be used against them. This expression is commonly used in court hearings, trials, or congressional hearings when individuals, particularly defendants or witnesses, choose not to answer specific questions that might incriminate them. By doing so, they exercise their constitutional right to avoid self-incrimination and protect themselves from potential legal consequences.
The act of "taking the Fifth" should not be misconstrued as an admission of guilt, as the decision to remain silent does not imply culpability. Instead, it is a legal strategy to safeguard oneself from any potentially harmful or self-incriminating statements. This constitutional right is aimed at preserving the principle of fairness within the legal system, ensuring that no one can be compelled to contribute to their own prosecution or harm their own interests by verbalizing potentially incriminating information.
Common Misspellings for TAKE THE FIFTH
- rake the fifth
- fake the fifth
- gake the fifth
- yake the fifth
- 6ake the fifth
- 5ake the fifth
- tzke the fifth
- tske the fifth
- twke the fifth
- tqke the fifth
- taje the fifth
- tame the fifth
- tale the fifth
- taoe the fifth
- taie the fifth
- takw the fifth
- taks the fifth
- takd the fifth
- takr the fifth
Idioms with the word TAKE THE FIFTH
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take the fifth (amendment)
The idiom "take the fifth (amendment)" refers to a situation where someone refuses to answer a question or provide information that may incriminate oneself. It originated from the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which protects individuals from being compelled to be witnesses against themselves in a criminal case. Taking the fifth is typically associated with remaining silent or avoiding self-incrimination during legal proceedings or interrogations.
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