# take the fifth

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/take-the-fifth
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To decline to comment, especially on grounds that it might be incriminating.

## Examples

- He decided to take the fifth when asked about the missing money.
- I take the fifth whenever my friends ask about my dating life.
- During the intense investigation, the witness chose to take the fifth rather than answer questions about his business partners.
- When my sister asked who ate the last piece of cake, I decided to take the fifth to avoid getting into trouble.
- The politician chose to take the fifth during the interview because he did not want to admit to meeting with the lobbyists.
- Faced with aggressive questioning that threatened to expose his past indiscretions, the executive opted to take the fifth to avoid providing evidence against himself.

## Origin

A reference to the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which contains the provision that no person shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself. The phrasing emerged from the American legal system as a shorthand for invoking this specific constitutional protection against self-incrimination.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.