Take the fifth
Channel: English Unpacked
Date: 2024-04-04

The idiom "take the fifth" refers to the right of a person in the United States to remain silent and not incriminate themselves when being questioned or interrogated, particularly in a legal setting. It comes from the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which protects individuals from being compelled to testify against themselves. So, when someone says they are going to "take the fifth," it means they are choosing not to answer a question or provide information that could potentially get them in trouble or be used against them.